Pericardial effusion of 4mm is not serious, it is a small amount of fluid.
1. The pericardium is a fibrous sac-like structure that wraps around the heart, and can be composed of a visceral layer and a wall layer, and the potential cavity between the two layers is called the pericardial cavity. There can be 15-50ml of plasma ultrafiltration fluid in it. If the amount of fluid exceeds a certain range, it can be called pericardial effusion.
2. Usually, a small amount of pericardial fluid can be seen during ultrasound examination, which is a normal physiological phenomenon. However, if the amount of fluid exceeds 50 ml, anechoic gaps can be seen under ultrasound, which is an abnormal phenomenon.
3. But note that although it is a small amount of fluid, if the growth rate is too fast, it may cause pericardial tamponade. And due to the continuous accumulation of pericardial fluid, it can cause an increase in intrapericardial pressure, preventing ventricular filling, which can lead to shock or circulatory failure in severe cases.
When abnormal pericardial effusion is detected, attention should be paid to it, and treatment should be carried out after the cause of the abnormality has been clarified by a doctor and regular checkups should be conducted.