Chapter 27

Question 1

What is the difference between cardiovascular disease and heart failure?

Answer 1

CVD: conditions with narrow or blocked vessels

Heart Failure: failure of the heart as a pump

Question 2

Pericardium

Answer 2

Pericardial sac

Double-layered serous membrane that isolates the heart from other thoracic structures, maintains its position in the thorax, and prevents it from overfilling, serves as a barrier to infection

Question 3

Acute Pericarditis

Answer 3

Inflammation of the pericardium of less than 2 weeks, may be isolated or systemic

Cause: viral, bacterial, connective tissue disease, trauma, drug toxicity, etc.

Etiology: associated with increased capillary permeability —> capillaries become permeable —> plasma proteins to leave capillaries and enter pericardial space due to rubbing of inflamed pericardial surfaces

Fibrin containing exudate —> scar tissue

ECG changes: diffuse ST segment elevations, PR segment depression, normalization fo the ST and PR segments, widespread T wave inversions, normalization of T waves

Symptoms: triad of chest pain, pericardial friction rub, ECG changes

Treatment: sitting up and leaning forward, NSAID, colchicine, corticosteroids

Diagnosis: ECG, chest radiography, echocardiography, elevated white blood cell count, ESR, and CRP

Question 4

Pericardial Effusion

Answer 4

Accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity due to an inflammatory or infectious process, neoplasms, cardiac surgery, trauma, cardiac rupture due to MI, and dissecting aortic aneurysm