Constrictive Pericarditis

Question 1

What is Constrictive Pericarditis?

Answer 1

loss of elasticity from chronic inflammation of the pericardium.

(pericardium becomes thick and fibrous, adheres to the heart)

Question 2

The manifestations of Constrictive Pericarditis?

Answer 2

• pericardial friction rub (grating sound)
• sharp, sudden, severe chest pain
• dyspnea
• tachycardia
• palpitations
• edema
• flulike symptoms (fever, chills, and myalgia)

Question 3

With Constrictive Pericarditis, severe chest pain increases with?

Answer 3

Deep inspiration
(w/ constrictive pericarditis)

Question 4

With Constrictive Pericarditis, severe chest pain decreases when?

Answer 4

sitting up/leaning forward

w/ constrictive pericarditis

Question 5

Diagnosis (Constrictive Pericarditis)?

Answer 5

• history
• exam
• complete blood count (CBC)
• EKG
• Chest X-ray
• ESR, CRP,
• EKG will show stemi
• CT
• Cardiac MRI

Question 6

Treatment (Constrictive Pericarditis)?

Colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug, can help control the inflammation as well as prevent pericarditis from reoccurring for a few months

treat severe cases (diuretics, antiarrhythmic, and immunosuppressive drugs).

Answer 6

• Resolve underlying cause (Antibiotics or infections)
• NSAIDs/analgesics (manage pain)
• Colchicine
• glucocorticoids
• rest
• O2 therapy
• pericardiocentesis
• pericardectomy
• nonsteroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory (reduce inflammation)

Question 7

Due to the Chronic Inflammation in the Pericardium (from Constrictive pericarditis), the pericardium becomes?

Answer 7

Thick and Fibrous and adheres to the heart.

Question 8

Due to the loss of elasticity of the pericardium, what happens?

Answer 8

• restricts cardiac filling
• decreasing cardiac output
• systemic congestion

Question 9

The loss of elasticity restricts (of the pericardium)?

Answer 9

Cardiac Filling

Question 10

The pericardium loss of elasticity restricts cardiac filling and it decreases?

Answer 10

Cardiac Output and causing systemic congestion

Question 11

Clinical manifestation (Constrictive Pericarditis): Pericardial friction rub is heard as a grating sound auscultating between?

Answer 11

• lower left sternal border
• cardiac apex (when the breath is held)
  (may be intermittent)

Question 12

During constrictive pericarditis where do you auscultate to hear the grating sound (pericardial friction)?

Answer 12

• Lower left sternal border

- Cardiac Apex (when the breath is held)

Question 13

During diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis a CBC is an indication of?

Answer 13

Infection
or
Inflammation

Question 14

During diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis, C-reactive protein levels will be?

Answer 14

-Inflammation

C-reactive protein levels (elevated levels indicate inflammation)

Question 15

During diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis, ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) would be?

Answer 15

ELEVATED

erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; elevated levels indicate inflammation)

Question 16

During diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis, the ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) will be elevated, indicating?

Answer 16

INFLAMMATION

erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; elevated levels indicate inflammation)

Question 17

During diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis, the EKG will show?

Answer 17

EKG (ST-segment elevation)

Question 18

With the treatment of Constrictive pericarditis, bed rest is important?

Answer 18

Reduce metabolic needs and cardiac workload

Question 19

With the treatment of Constrictive pericarditis, Oxygen therapy is important?

Answer 19

• increase available oxygen

Question 20

With the treatment of Constrictive pericarditis, a pericardiocentesis may be performed to?

Answer 20

withdraw excess fluid from the pericardium

Question 21

With the treatment of Constrictive pericarditis, a pericardiectomy is?

Answer 21

a surgical procedure in which a window is created in the pericardium

Question 22

With the treatment of Constrictive pericarditis, a pericardiectomy is performed to?

Answer 22

• release constriction and allow excess fluid to drain into the pleural cavity