Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Histological Quantification of Chronic Myocardial Infarct in Rats
09:45

Histological Quantification of Chronic Myocardial Infarct in Rats

Published on: December 11, 2016

Relation of pericardial effusion to degree of fractional shortening

Mohammad-Reza Movahed1, Yuji Saito, Mastaneh Ahmadi-Kashani

  • 1Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California, Irvine, USA.

The American Journal of Cardiology
|March 7, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Pericardial effusion is more common in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, specifically decreased fractional shortening (FS). However, moderate to severe effusions are not explained by reduced LV systolic function.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Echocardiography
  • Cardiac Imaging

Background:

  • Significant pericardial effusion prevalence in left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is largely unreported.
  • Assessing pericardial effusion in relation to LV systolic function is crucial for understanding cardiac health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the prevalence and severity of pericardial effusion in patients with decreased fractional shortening (FS).
  • To correlate pericardial effusion occurrence and severity with the degree of LV dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 24,265 echocardiograms (1984-1998).
  • Fractional shortening (FS) measured in 18,015 echocardiograms and stratified into four groups.
  • Pericardial effusion visually categorized as mild, moderate, or severe.

Main Results:

  • Pericardial effusion was present in 1,632 patients with measured FS.
  • Effusion prevalence increased with decreased FS (8.4% to 14.4%, p <0.0001).
  • Only mild pericardial effusion correlated with decreased FS; moderate to severe effusions were not explained by reduced LV systolic function.

Conclusions:

  • Decreased left ventricular (LV) systolic function, indicated by reduced fractional shortening (FS), is associated with a higher prevalence of pericardial effusion.
  • The presence of moderate to severe pericardial effusion in patients with LV dysfunction requires further investigation beyond systolic function assessment.

More Related Videos

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) Exam: Image Acquisition07:18

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) Exam: Image Acquisition

Published on: September 22, 2023

An Intact Pericardium Ischemic Rodent Model07:15

An Intact Pericardium Ischemic Rodent Model

Published on: September 2, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Pericarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests01:19

Pericarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests

Pericarditis is distinguished by inflammation of the pericardium, the fibrous sac that encases the heart. It can be acute, lasting less than six weeks, or chronic, persisting for over three months. Understanding its clinical manifestations and diagnostic findings is crucial for timely and effective management.Clinical ManifestationsWhile pericarditis can be asymptomatic, it usually presents with characteristic symptoms such as:Chest Pain: The most characteristic symptom of pericarditis is chest...
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction01:23

Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction

Rheumatic heart disease or RHD is a chronic condition that results from rheumatic fever, causing permanent damage to the heart valves.Etiology and Risk FactorsIt primarily arises from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can develop after untreated or inadequately treated group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Streptococcus spreads through direct contact with oral or respiratory secretions. While the bacteria are the causative agents, factors like malnutrition, overcrowding, poor...
Pericarditis III: Medical Management01:17

Pericarditis III: Medical Management

The primary objectives of managing pericarditis are to determine the underlying cause, provide effective therapy for treatment and symptom relief, and promptly detect signs and symptoms of cardiac tamponade. The following outlines the essential aspects of medical management for pericarditis:ObjectivesDetermine the Cause: Identifying the underlying cause of pericarditis is crucial for targeted treatment. Causes include viral infections, autoimmune diseases, post-cardiac injury syndrome, and...
Pericarditis I: Introduction01:22

Pericarditis I: Introduction

Pericarditis is defined as the inflammation of the pericardium, the thin, sac-like membrane surrounding the heart. This condition can cause significant chest pain and other symptoms, often necessitating medical intervention. The pericardium has two layers: the inner visceral layer and the outer parietal layer, separated by a small amount of fluid that reduces friction during heartbeats.Types of PericarditisPericarditis can be classified into several types based on the duration and nature of the...
Pleural Effusion I: Introduction01:25

Pleural Effusion I: Introduction

Pleural effusion is an abnormal fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity, a narrow space between the lungs and the chest wall. It is not a disease per se but rather a symptom or indication of an underlying disease. In normal circumstances, this space contains a small amount of fluid (5 to 15 mL), a lubricant facilitating the non-frictional movement of the pleural surfaces.
There are two main types of pleural effusion: transudative and exudative. They are differentiated using Light's criteria,...
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...