“The more you know . . .,"

******

“The more you know, the more you know you don't know and the more you know that you don't know.”     

― David Byrne, The New Sins

I did not know.
I thought I had a handle on what to expect.
How dumb. How very dumb.
I thought that the path I chose would save me from the foreseen.
How wrong. How absolutely wrong.
I thought that bullets could be dodged, if I opted to weave.
Sometimes an aim is too sure.
Sometimes fate has other things in mind.
You can never be sure. No sure thing.
Not today.

Today, I learned something I didn't know.
Knowledge can be dear.

Pericardial effusion is extra fluid around the heart.
 

Pericardial effusion is extra fluid inside the sac that surrounds the heart. The extra fluid causes pressure on the heart, which stops it from pumping blood normally. Lymph vessels may also be blocked, which often causes bacterial or viral infections. If fluid builds up quickly, a condition called cardiac tamponade may occur. In cardiac tamponade, the heart cannot pump enough blood to the rest of the body. This is life-threatening and must be treated right away.

Pericardial effusion may be caused by cancer or other conditions.

A pericardial effusion may be malignant (caused by cancer) or nonmalignant (caused by a condition that is not cancer). A malignant effusion is common in certain types of cancer. Lung cancer, BREAST CANCER, melanoma, lymphoma, and leukemia cause most malignant effusions. An effusion also may be caused by cancer treatment, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Possible signs of pericardial effusion include anxiety and dyspnea (shortness of breath).

At first, a pericardial effusion may not cause any symptoms. These and other symptoms may be caused by a pericardial effusion or by other conditions. Check with your doctor if you have any of the following problems:

• Dyspnea (shortness of breath).  √
• Cough. √
• Trouble breathing while lying flat. √
• Chest pain. √
• Fast heart beat or breathing.
• Feeling faint. Sometimes
• Swelling in the upper abdomen.
• Extreme tiredness or weakness. √
• Being anxious.

Pericardial effusion usually occurs in advanced cancer or in the last few weeks of life. During these times, it may be more important to relieve the symptoms than to diagnose the condition. However, in some cases, the following tests and procedures may be used to diagnose pericardial effusion:

• Chest x-ray: An x-ray of the organs and bones inside the chest. An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto film, making a picture of areas inside the body.   √
• Echocardiography: A procedure in which high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off internal tissues or organs of the chest. The echoes form a picture of the heart's position, motion of the walls, and internal parts such as the valves.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG): A line graph recording of the heart's electrical activity to check its rate and rhythm. A number of electrodes (small pads) are placed on the patient’s chest, arms, and legs. The electrodes are connected by wires to the EKG machine. Heart activity is then recorded on paper. Electrical activity that is faster or slower than normal may be a sign of heart problems.   √
• Pericardiocentesis: A procedure to remove fluid from the pericardium using a needle inserted through the chest wall. The doctor may use echocardiography to watch the movement of the heart and needle inside the chest. The fluid is viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for cancer cells or signs of infection. This procedure can also be used to treat pericardial effusion. Removing the fluid reduces pressure on the heart.