Clin Med: Cardio III Flashcards
List causes of pericarditis.
- Infectious
- Systemic dz
- Radiation
- Drug toxicity
- other than viral most are idiopathic
What is the pericardium
a fibrous covering of the heart & great vessels (like aorta)
Describe infectious pericarditis.
- most common is viral
- TB rare in developing countries
- bacterial rare, usually from extension of pulm infx
What are the common viruses that cause pericarditis?(8)
- Coxsackie
- Echovirus
- Influenza
- Epstein-Barr
- Varicella
- Hepatitis
- Mumps
- HIV
What is pulmonary bacteria that causes pericarditis?
strep pneumo
Describe systemic dz causing pericarditis.
autoimmune syndromes, neoplasms
Pericarditis account for how many hospital admissions?
0.2%
Pericarditis account for about what number of pts w/ non-ischemic chest pain in the ED?
5%
Pericarditis: Pathophys
inflammation of pericardium causes chest pain–> movement of heart w/n inflamed pericardium may produce friction
What is pericardial friction rub?
the friction b/t 2 inflamed pericardial layers
(scratchy or squeaky sound; walking on snow)
heard best at Left lower sternal border, louder w/ inspiration, have patient lean forward
Pericarditis: Hx
- pleuritic chest pain
- may report prodrome
- abrupt onset of severe, sharp, inspiratory chest pain on the left side or substernal (pleuritic chest pain)
- chest pain happen days after resp or GI infx
Pericarditis pain may (location):
–> radiate to neck, L. shoulder, & arm
–>radiate to trapezius muscle ridge
be reduced w/ sitting & leaning fwd
–>be aggravated by lying supine or w/ inspiration
Pericarditis: Physical
- assess for signs of cardiac tamponade**
- tachycardia, tachypnea
- Fever
- Pericardial friction rub
Pericarditis: Dx
- usually SL
- leukocytosis
- EKG
- CXR
- Echo
- ESR/CRP elevated
- Look for underlying causes
Pericarditis: Describe EKG
Generalized ST-T wave changes, diffuse ST elevations, followed by return to baseline, then T wave inversions
Pericarditis: Describe CXR
Cardiac enlargement if pericardial effusion
Pericarditis: Describe Echo
can demonstrate pericardial effusion, tamponade
Acute pericarditis: Tx
Aspirin OR Ibuprofen + Colchicine
Recurrent pericarditis: Tx
Aspirin OR Ibuprofen
Describe pericardial Effusion
- Buildup of extra fluid in the space around the heart
- Can occur w/ any form of pericarditis
- Can lead to cardiac tamponade
Describe cardiac tamponade
heart isn’t pumping good bc of fluid accumulation in the pericardial sac
Causes of cardiac tamponade…
- idiopathic pericarditis
- Pericarditis 2ndary to neoplastic dz
- Aortic dissection
- Trauma
- Anticoagulation
3 classic features of cardiac tamponade (Beck’s Triad):
- Hypotension
- Soft or absent heart sounds
- JVD
Other S/S of cardiac tamponade
- Tachypnea
- Chest discomfort
- Lower extremity edema