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Suggest Treatment For Pericardial Effusion And Cardiomyopathy
Question: my husband had a scond heart attack last night, his first attack resulted intwo stens placed this was in 2008, last night the doctor told me the stent was blocked and had to insert a second stent inside the blocked one. in the past year, he as be going through chemo for colon and liver cancer. He has a liver discestion surgery on his liver followed by 12 rounds of heavy chemo. The doctor last night said it could have been from the chemo? This morning I was told he now has fluid around his heart. Is this a serious issue? XXXXX
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Welcome on HCM!
I passed carefully through your husband's medical history and would explain that chemotherapy is actually well-known to be the cause of cardiomyopathy and also pericardial effusion.
Also, cancer condition and chemotherapy are not rarely the triggering factors for acute coronary syndromes and coronary stent thrombosis.
As the blocked stent is actually resolved, now the most important factors influencing his prognosis are his primary disease (cancer) and possible underlying adverse effects of chemotherapy on his heart.
Regarding his actual cardiac condition, I would explain that it is important to ask his attending cardiologist about his pericardial effusion (fluid around the heart).
If the fluid is accumulated after the stenting procedure, then this could be a serious issue, as it could indicate a potential complication of the procedure (coronary artery laceration or perforation).
If the fluid has been noticed even before the procedure then a complication of his neoplastic disease or the underlying treatment should be sought.
Coming to this point, serial repeated cardiac ultrasound (echos) would be necessary for monitoring the fluid accumulation trends and decide the most appropriate treatment.
You need to discuss with his doctor on the above mentioned issues.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Welcome on HCM!
I passed carefully through your husband's medical history and would explain that chemotherapy is actually well-known to be the cause of cardiomyopathy and also pericardial effusion.
Also, cancer condition and chemotherapy are not rarely the triggering factors for acute coronary syndromes and coronary stent thrombosis.
As the blocked stent is actually resolved, now the most important factors influencing his prognosis are his primary disease (cancer) and possible underlying adverse effects of chemotherapy on his heart.
Regarding his actual cardiac condition, I would explain that it is important to ask his attending cardiologist about his pericardial effusion (fluid around the heart).
If the fluid is accumulated after the stenting procedure, then this could be a serious issue, as it could indicate a potential complication of the procedure (coronary artery laceration or perforation).
If the fluid has been noticed even before the procedure then a complication of his neoplastic disease or the underlying treatment should be sought.
Coming to this point, serial repeated cardiac ultrasound (echos) would be necessary for monitoring the fluid accumulation trends and decide the most appropriate treatment.
You need to discuss with his doctor on the above mentioned issues.
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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