Abstract
Transthoracic echocardiography is the first-line imaging modality for diagnosing pericardial diseases such as pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade, constrictive pericarditis, pericardial cysts and tumors, and partial and complete absence of the pericardium. The limitations of this imaging are very few, mainly represented by a poor echocardiographic window and the lack of details of the pericardium’s anatomy. Although transthoracic echocardiography is almost always the ideal technique to detect pericardial diseases, many factors in the period after cardiac surgery may indicate the need for transesophageal echocardiography.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsFurther Reading
Ashikhmina EA et al (2010) Pericardial effusion after cardiac surgery: risk factors, patient profiles, and contemporary management. Ann Thorac Surg 89:112–118
Dal-Bianco JP et al (2009) Role of echocardiography in the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 22:24–33
The Task Force on the Diagnosis and Management of Pericardial Diseases of the European Society of Cardiology (2004) Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases. Eur Heart J 25:587–610.
Wann Samuel, Passen Edward (2008) Echocardiography in pericardial disease. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 21:7–13
Yared K et al (2010) Multimodality imaging of pericardial diseases. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 3:650–660
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer-Verlag Italia
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lorini, F.L., Cerutti, S., Didedda, G. (2013). Pericardium and Pericardial Diseases. In: Sarti, A., Lorini, F. (eds) Echocardiography for Intensivists. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2583-7_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2583-7_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Milano
Print ISBN: 978-88-470-2582-0
Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2583-7
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)