Pericardial Effusion Symptoms | Medical Algorithm

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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Echocardiographic Grading the Size of Pericardial Effusion