J Korean Soc Echocardiogr.  1995 Dec;3(2):196-203. 10.4250/jkse.1995.3.2.196.

Quantification of Large Pericardial Effusion by Two-Dimensional Echocardiography

• Shin KM
• Kim KS
• Han SW
• Hur SH
• Kim YN
• Kim KB

• KMID: 2410422
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4250/jkse.1995.3.2.196

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The accurate information about the volume of pericardial effusion can assist in clinical decisions and has impartant prognostic value. In addition, accurate quantification of serial change in effusion volume is necessary in assessing pericardial disease and making a decision of immediate drainage. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of 2-D echocardiographic quantification of pericardial effusion. METHOD: The study populations are 22 patients with large pericardial effusion whose volume of effusion is confirmed by paracentesis or surgical drainage. Through the echocardiographic reviw, the volume of pericardial sac and heart was calculated by method of D'cruz and then, the effusion volume was derived as the difference of two volumes. Each echocardiographically calculated volume of pericardial effusion was compared with the measured volume drained percutaneously or surgically.
RESULTS
The volume of pericardial effusion calculated echocardiographically was excellently correlated with the drained volume(r=0.90, p < 0.01). The echo-free space was well correlated with the volume of pericardial effusion in the anterior aspect of the heart(r=0.71, p < 0.01), but not in the posterior aspect.
CONCLUSION
2-D echocardiographic Quantification of pericardial effusion is simple and reliable method, and its clinical efficacy may be great.

Keyword

Pericardial Effusion; Quantification; 2-D Echocardiography

MeSH Terms

Drainage
Echocardiography*
Heart
Humans
Methods
Paracentesis
Pericardial Effusion*
Treatment Outcome