Can pleural effusions cause cardiac tamponade?

Alam, H B; Levitt, A; Molyneaux, R; Davidson, P; Sample, G A · Chest · 1999

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

Pleural effusion(s) can increase the pressure of an otherwise insignificant pericardial effusion to a degree that can result in cardiac tamponade. The case histories presented here illustrate the importance of recognizing this phenomenon and altering our treatment algorithm to drain the pleural effusions instead of the pericardial collections.

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