Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
The inflammation may reach out and affect the heart sac. This is called pericarditis. In Dressler's syndrome, this occurs several weeks after the initial event. If pericarditis were to persist, pericardial effusion may also occur which could in turn lead to cardiac tamponade if not properly treated. [2]
For example, pericardial effusion from autoimmune etiologies may benefit from anti-inflammatory medications. Pericardial effusion due to a viral infection usually resolves within a few weeks without any treatment. [8] Small pericardial effusions without any symptoms don't require treatment and may be watched with serial ultrasounds. [2]
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)
A pericardial effusion is fluid in the pericardial sac. When large enough, the pressure compresses the heart. This causes shock by preventing the heart from filling with blood. This is called cardiac tamponade. The chambers of the heart can collapse from this pressure. The right heart has thinner walls and collapses more easily.
It is clinically similar to a pericardial effusion, and, depending on the volume and rapidity with which it develops, may cause cardiac tamponade. [ 1 ] The condition can be caused by full-thickness necrosis (death) of the myocardium (heart muscle) after myocardial infarction , chest trauma , [ 2 ] and by over-prescription of anticoagulants .
The most common cause of myocardial rupture is a recent myocardial infarction, with the rupture typically occurring three to five days after infarction. [3] Other causes of rupture include cardiac trauma, endocarditis (infection of the heart), [4] [5] cardiac tumors, infiltrative diseases of the heart, [4] and aortic dissection.
Pericardiocentesis is a procedure whereby the fluid in a pericardial effusion is removed through a needle. It is performed under the following conditions: [15] presence of moderate or severe cardiac tamponade; diagnostic purpose for suspected purulent, tuberculosis, or neoplastic pericarditis; persistent symptomatic pericardial effusion
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 ...