pericardial disease

Question 1

myocarditis

Answer 1

inflammatory disease of the myocardium (mild –> deadly)

*inflammation with loss and death of heart cells
*impulse dysfunction common

Question 2

most common cause of myocarditis

Answer 2

coxsackie VIRUS A & B

Question 3

tx for myocarditis

Answer 3

anti-inflammatories
anti-virals
heart transplant (severe cases)

Question 4

pericarditis

Answer 4

when pericardium is inflamed, fluid accumulates in the pericardial space + surrounds heart –> pericardial effusion

Question 5

cardiac tamponade

Answer 5

if pericardial effusion fluid gathers >200mL, it can compress the heart

the heart chambers are restricted by the surrounding pericardial fluid, so they cant stretch and fill with blood

Question 6

S/S of acute pericarditis

Answer 6

chest pain: sharp, worsens with breathing
fever
dyspnea + shallow breathing
ECG: ST elevation
*pericardial friction rub (scratching sound heard with stethescope)
*pulsus paradoxus
*s/s of cardiac tamponade

Question 7

S/S of cardiac tamponade

Answer 7

“Beck Triad”
-hypotension (decreased CO bc heart cant fill)
-JVD (backup of blood)
-muffled heart sounds (listening through fluid)

Question 8

pulsus paradoxus

Answer 8

occurs in 70-80% pt with cardiac tamponade

decrease in systolic BP of 10 or more with inspiration

Question 9

pericarditis tx

Answer 9

NSAIDs
ASA
corticosteroids
colchicine (+gout; if NSAIDs dont work)

Question 10

pericardial effusion –> cardiac tamponade tx

Answer 10

pericardiocentesis