Hemopericardium is the accumulation of blood in the pericardial space, the potential space between the heart and the pericardial sac. This can result from cardiac rupture after a heart attack, trauma, aortic dissection, or complications of cardiac procedures. On echocardiography, hemopericardium appears as an echogenic effusion surrounding the heart, differing from simple pericardial effusions which are typically anechoic. A rapidly accumulating hemopericardium can cause cardiac tamponade, compressing the heart and preventing it from filling adequately. Emergency echocardiography can rapidly diagnose this condition and guide pericardiocentesis, the life-saving procedure to drain the blood.
Sonography Term