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Purulent Pericarditis; Echocardiogram showing pericardial effusion with signs of cardiac tamponade: Specialty: Cardiology: Symptoms: substernal chest pain (exacerbated supine and with breathing deeply), dyspnea, fever, rigors/chills, and cardiorespiratory signs (i.e., tachycardia, friction rub, pulsus paradoxus, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, pleural effusion)
For acute pericarditis to formally be diagnosed, two or more of the following criteria must be present: chest pain consistent with a diagnosis of acute pericarditis (sharp chest pain worsened by breathing in or a cough), a pericardial friction rub, a pericardial effusion, and changes on electrocardiogram (ECG) consistent with acute pericarditis ...
[4] [5] Diagnosis is based on the presence of chest pain, a pericardial rub, specific electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, and fluid around the heart. [6] A heart attack may produce similar symptoms to pericarditis. [1] Treatment in most cases is with NSAIDs and possibly the anti-inflammatory medication colchicine. [6]
Initial tests include electrocardiography (ECG) and chest x-ray. Chest x-ray: is non-specific and may not help identify a pericardial effusion but a very large, chronic effusion can present as "water-bottle sign" on an x-ray, which occurs when the cardiopericardial silhouette is enlarged and assumes the shape of a flask or water bottle. [2]
The diagnosis may be further supported by specific electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, chest X-ray, or an ultrasound of the heart. [2] If fluid increases slowly the pericardial sac can expand to contain more than 2 liters; however, if the increase is rapid, as little as 200 mL can result in tamponade. [2] Tamponade is a medical emergency. [5]
Uremic pericarditis is associated with azotemia, and occurs in about 6-10% of kidney failure patients. BUN is normally >60 mg/dL (normal is 7–20 mg/dL). However, the degree of pericarditis does not correlate with the degree of serum BUN or creatinine elevation. The pathogenesis is poorly understood. [2]
The disease consists of persistent low-grade fever, chest pain (usually pleuritic), pericarditis (usually evidenced by a pericardial friction rub, chest pain worsening when recumbent, and diffuse ST elevation with PR segment depression), and/or pericardial effusion. The symptoms tend to occur 2–3 weeks after myocardial infarction but can also ...
Constrictive pericarditis is a condition characterized by a thickened, fibrotic pericardium, limiting the heart's ability to function normally. [1] In many cases, the condition continues to be difficult to diagnose and therefore benefits from a good understanding of the underlying cause.