title: Pleural effusion leading to right atrial collapse.
abstract: Rapid accumulation of pericardial fluid can lead to tamponade, resulting in cardiac chambers' collapse, which can lead to hemodynamic and clinical instability, potentially needing emergent pericardiocentesis. Pleural effusion should also be considered as a potential, if rare, cause of cardiac chambers' collapse and possibly cardiac tamponade. This phenomenon has clinical implications because hemodynamically unstable patients with moderate to large pleural effusion may actually need thoracentesis instead of massive volume resuscitation, inotropic agents, or pericardiocentesis.
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Memphis, TN, 38163.
authors.forename: Rami N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Khouzam
authors.forename: Jawwad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yusuf
mesh_terms: D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: atrial collapse; pleural effusion; tamponade