clinical features

Last reviewed 01/2018

Symptoms include:

  • fatigue
  • breathlessness is not severe and, characteristically, occurs on exertion and not at rest
  • swelling of abdomen and ankles - ascites is more prominent feature than peripheral oedema

Signs include:

  • small pulse:
    • pulsus paradoxus
    • atrial fibrillation
    • tachycardia
  • Kussmaul's sign (a raised JVP with inspiration); dominant y descent and trough
  • cardiac impulses: barely palpable; characteristic is systolic retraction at the apex
  • pericardial knock (loud-high pitched S3) following S2
  • hepatomegaly
  • ascites
  • ankle swelling

Reference:

  • Braunwald E (2011). Heart Disease - A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine,WB Saunders.