The size of a pericardial effusion can be graded based on its echocardiographic features.
Views: parasternal long and short axis views
Echocardiographic Features
Size
Grade
none
absent
0
separation of pericardium layers during both diastole and systole
trace
1
separation during diastole < 1.0 cm
small
2
separation during diastole 1.0 to 2.0 cm
moderate
3
separation during diastole > 2.0 cm
large
4
where:
• Grades 1 and 2 may show interobserver variation.
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Purpose: To grade the size of a pericardial infusion on echocardiography.
Specialty: Cardiology
Objective: imaging studies, criteria for diagnosis, severity, prognosis, stage, complications
ICD-10: I31.3,
