pericarditis

Question 1

what is pericarditis?

Answer 1

the inflammation of the pericardial layer of the heart

Question 2

what are the causes of it?

Answer 2

Bacterial
Viral
Post MI
Perforation
Aortic Dissection
Neoplasia.

Question 3

what are the symptoms and signs?

Answer 3

Central Chest Pain (Worse on inspiration or lying flat, and relieved by sitting forward)

Fever

Raised Temperature

Raised JVP

Pericardial Rub

Tachypnoea

Tachycardia

Low BP

Question 4

what investigations are used to diagnose pericarditis?

Answer 4

Bloods = FBC , U&E, ESR

ECG (saddle-shaped ST elevation, PR depression - particular to Acute Pericarditis)

ECHO (all suspected patients should undergo a transthoracic ECHO)

Raised Troponin (modestly raised Troponin is seen in 1/3 of patients with acute pericarditis)

Question 5

what treatment is used?

Answer 5

Treat the underlying cause

Colchicine

Analgesia (Ibuprofen, taken with food)

Drainage

(NSAIDs and Colchicine are the first line for idiopathic or viral acute pericarditis)