Exam 1 - Pericardial Disease

Question 1

what is myocarditis

Answer 1

• an inflammatory disease of the myocardium that can range from a mild disorder to a lethal condition
• inflammation with degeneration and necrosis of cardiac myocytes
• conduction disruption is common

Question 2

are dysrhytmias common with myocarditis

Answer 2

yes

Question 3

what is the most common cause of myocarditis

Answer 3

• viruses
• coxsackie viruses A and B

Question 4

what is pericarditis

Answer 4

• when the pericardium undergoes inflammation, fluid accumulates in the pericardial space

Question 5

what is pericardial effusion

Answer 5

• the fluid that surrounds the heart

Question 6

cardiac tamponade

Answer 6

• emergency, drain quickly
• happens with the fluid accumulates to high levels of 200ml or greater
• heart chambers are restricted by the surrounding pericardial fluid so they cannot stretch and fill with blood

Question 7

signs of acute pericarditis

Answer 7

• chest pain; sharp and worsens with deep breathing
• fever
• dyspnea
• pericardial friction rub
• ST elevation on ECG
• symptoms of cardiac tamponade
• pulsus paradoxus

Question 8

what is the beck triad

Answer 8

• symptoms of cardiac tamponade
  1. hypotension
  2. jugular vein distension
  3. muffled heart sounds

Question 9

what is pulsus paradoxus

Answer 9

• a decrease in systolic blood pressure of 10 mm Hg or more with inspiration

Question 10

pericarditis treatment

Answer 10

• NSAIDs
• ASA
• corticosteroids
• colchicine