IVPOCUS Board Member Dr. Laurent Sakarovitch of France presents a dog with pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade warranting emergent pericardiocentesis. The most common cause of pericardial effusion is neoplasia followed by idiopathic. Thus, staging with the Global FAST Approach (combined use of AFAST, TFAST and Vet BLUE) is very important to rapidly screen for ascites (modified transudate – better prognosis or hemoabdomen or other) and any obvious masses/metastasis in the spleen, liver and lung. Furosemide should be used cautiously in patients with pericardial effusion.

The most common cause of pericardial effusion in cats is congestive heart failure. Thank you Dr. Sakarovitch!