HEMOPERICARDIUM 77 



HEMOPERICARDIUM. 



Definition.— A collection of blood in the pericardial sac. 



Etiology.— This condition is found in aneurysm of the 

 aorta, cardiac wall, or coronary arteries, and in rupture and 

 wounds of the heart. Dogs and cats are frequently affected 

 from gunshot wounds, being run over, etc. 



Symptoms.— The principal symptoms are those of rapid 

 heart weakness, paleness of the mucous membranes, rapid 

 weakness and in most cases death in a very short time from 

 compression of the heart. In slight hemorrhages the animal 

 may live for several hours or days with a progressive heart 

 weakness, dyspnea and all the physical signs of effusion in 

 the pericardial sac. 



Treatment.— Treatment in most cases is impossible, and in 

 the slow progressive cases usually unsatisfactory. 



Other diseases of the pericardium, such as pneumoperi- 

 cardium, are of no importance clinically. 



