Pericarditis Flashcards
What is pericarditis?
Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, the thin, two-layered, fluid-filled sac that covers the outer surface of your heart. Pericarditis usually develops suddenly and may last from weeks up to several months. The condition usually clears up after three months, but sometimes attacks can come and go for years.
Types of Pericarditis?
Acute pericarditis: Inflammation of the pericardium that develops suddenly along with the sudden onset of symptoms.
Chronic pericarditis: Inflammation of the pericardium that lasts for three months or longer after the initial acute attack.
Constrictive pericarditis: A severe form of pericarditis in which the inflamed layers of the pericardium stiffen, develop scar tissue, thicken and stick together. Constrictive pericarditis interferes with your heart’s normal function. This usually happens after multiple episodes of acute pericarditis over time.
Infectious pericarditis: develops as the result of a viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection.
Idiopathic pericarditis: Pericarditis that doesn’t have a known cause.
Traumatic pericarditis: develops as the result of an injury to the chest, such as after a car accident.
Uremic pericarditis: develops as the result of kidney failure.
Malignant pericarditis: develops as result of a cancer growing in your body.
signs and symptoms of pericarditis
chest pain that feels like a stabbing sensation pleuritic pain
pericardial rub
pain in the neck that may spread across the shoulders and/or arms
a fever
nausea (feeling like you want to vomit)
feeling light headed
a sudden shortness of breath
The pain can sometimes get worse when you’re lying down and better when you’re leaning forward.
ECG characteristics
Widespread concave ST elevation and PR depression throughout most of the limb leads (I, II, III, aVL, aVF) and precordial leads (V2-6)
Reciprocal ST depression and PR elevation in lead aVR (± V1)
Sinus tachycardia is also common in acute pericarditis due to pain and/or pericardial effusion
