How to eliminate pericardial effusion and ascites?

Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
Updated on January 05, 2025
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The methods for eliminating pericardial effusion and ascites mainly include the following aspects: First, etiological treatment, which involves treating the underlying causes of pericardial effusion and ascites. For instance, if tuberculosis is the cause, standard anti-tuberculosis treatment should be administered. Once tuberculosis is under control, the ascites and pericardial effusion will naturally resolve. Second, symptomatic treatment, such as the use of diuretic drugs, can reduce the phenomenon of pericardial effusion and ascites in some patients. If there is hypoproteinemia, appropriate supplementation with albumin can effectively improve the effusion. Third, fluid drainage treatment, if the amount of pericardial effusion and ascites is large, puncture and fluid drainage can be performed to alleviate the pericardial effusion and ascites, and at the same time, further investigate the cause of the effusion.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Should fluid intake be controlled for pericardial effusion?

Whether pericardial effusion requires control of water intake depends on the cause of the pericardial effusion, as there are many reasons for it, such as heart failure, tuberculous pericarditis, tumors, and hypoproteinemia. Pericardial effusion caused by heart failure requires water intake restriction, as excessive drinking can aggravate the symptoms of heart failure. However, for pericardial effusion caused by tuberculosis or tumors, water intake does not significantly affect the pericardial effusion, so there is no need to deliberately control water consumption. Patients with pericardial effusion should quit smoking and avoid alcohol in their daily lives, as smoking and drinking can exacerbate the symptoms of pericardial effusion. Additionally, patients should not overexert themselves.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Is pericardial effusion related to pneumonia?

Pericardial effusion is generally not closely related to pneumonia. The common causes of pericardial effusion mainly include tuberculous pericarditis, as well as factors such as tumors, heart failure, and hypoproteinemia. The onset of pulmonary inflammation primarily affects the lungs, with symptoms often manifesting as cough and yellowish sputum. Some patients may also experience pleural effusion. Pulmonary CT scans typically show inflammatory exudative changes. If the pericardial effusion is minor, it is usually not a significant issue, but proper medical examination is necessary to rule out causes like tuberculosis or tumors that could lead to pericardial effusion.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Is pericardial effusion prone to recurrence?

Whether pericardial effusion is prone to recurrence depends on the causes of the effusion. There are many causes of pericardial effusion, such as organic heart disease, heart failure, tumors, tuberculosis, and hypoproteinemia, all of which can lead to the development of pericardial effusion. Among these, pericardial effusion caused by tuberculous pericarditis will not recur as long as standardized anti-tuberculosis treatment is administered and the tuberculosis is controlled. However, pericardial effusion caused by heart failure may recur repeatedly because heart failure itself can also recur. Moreover, pericardial effusion caused by tumors, if the tumors cannot be eradicated, often also recurs.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Can tuberculous pleurisy cause pericardial effusion?

Tuberculous pleurisy can also cause pericardial effusion. Firstly, tuberculous pleurisy is actually caused by the tubercle bacillus, a type of immune response in the human body that manifests as inflammation in the serous cavity. The serous cavities include various types such as the pleura surrounding the lungs, the pericardium around the heart, and the peritoneum in the abdomen. Therefore, tuberculous inflammation can occur in multiple serous cavities, including the pleura, pericardium, and abdominal cavity. Of course, when diagnosing, one cannot solely rely on the presence of effusion in multiple serous cavities to diagnose tuberculous pleurisy. Instead, it is essential to aspirate the pleural fluid and test certain markers in it, such as adenosine deaminase and lactate dehydrogenase. Most importantly, the presence of acid-fast bacilli in the fluid should be checked. If detected, it can generally be diagnosed as tuberculous.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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What is the cause of pericardial effusion with persistent high fever?

If the patient presents with pericardial effusion and experiences elevated body temperature, it may indicate the presence of an infection, suggesting that the symptoms are worsening. Currently, the treatment for pericardial effusion primarily involves puncture, fluid extraction, and laboratory analysis. If the pericardial effusion is severe or abundant, fever may occur. Since fever is an indicator of inflammation, it is necessary to use antibiotics for active treatment in order to control this condition. If the body temperature continues to rise, sometimes it is also necessary to use antipyretic drugs to alleviate the symptoms. Persistent high fever indicates that the condition has become very serious, signaling that the infection indices are extremely severe.