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→Diagnosis
Echocardiography is also useful to establish the cause of the pericardial effusion. Mass lesions may be small and difficult to distinguish in some cases, but may be very easily identified in others. Haemangiosarcomas can be seen infiltrating the right atrium, whereas heart base tumours typically surround the aorta and pulmonary artery.
Echocardiography is also useful to establish the cause of the pericardial effusion. Mass lesions may be small and difficult to distinguish in some cases, but may be very easily identified in others. Haemangiosarcomas can be seen infiltrating the right atrium, whereas heart base tumours typically surround the aorta and pulmonary artery.
==== Laboratory Tests====
Haematology:
* Increased numbers of circulating nucleated erythrocytes or large numbers of acanthocytes are indicative of Haemangiosarcoma (cardiac, splenic)
* Anaemia and thrombocytopaenia are more common in dogs with pericardial effusion due to Haemangiosarcoma
Biochemistry:
* Mild increase in liver enzymes, due to hepatic congestion
* Mild hypoproteinaemia, presumed secondary to right-sided congestive heart failure
* Pre-renal azotemia, due to poor cardiac output
Cardiac biomarkers:
* Cardiac troponin I may be increased in dogs with pericardial disease and can be higher in dogs with Haemangiosarcoma than those with idiopathic haemorrhagic pericardial effusion.
====Pericardial Fluid Analysis====
====Pericardial Fluid Analysis====
Fluid should always be sent for further analysis, including total and differential cell counts, packed cell volume, specific gravity, cytology, bacterial culture and sensitivity. Pericardial effusions can be classified as haemorrhagic, transudate, modified transudate and exudate and the classification informs the likely underlying cause. Differentiating reactive mesothelial cells from neoplastic mesothelial cells can be incredibly difficult, sometimes a diagnosis can only be made following histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of the excised pericardium.
Fluid should always be sent for further analysis, including total and differential cell counts, packed cell volume, specific gravity, cytology, bacterial culture and sensitivity. Pericardial effusions can be classified as haemorrhagic, transudate, modified transudate and exudate and the classification informs the likely underlying cause. Differentiating reactive mesothelial cells from neoplastic mesothelial cells can be incredibly difficult, sometimes a diagnosis can only be made following histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of the excised pericardium.
- Modified transudate: right-sided congestive heart failure, neoplasia
- Modified transudate: right-sided congestive heart failure, neoplasia
- Exudate: feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), infection (bacterial, fungal), foreign body
- Exudate: feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), infection (bacterial, fungal), foreign body
===Treatment===
===Treatment===