Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardium, a thin, two-layered sac that surrounds your heart. The layers have a small amount of fluid between them to prevent friction when the heart beats. When the layers are inflamed, it can result in chest pain.

1. PERICARDITIS
Dr. Arjun Patel, MPT, DNHE

2. Acute pericarditis
Definition
- It is a inflammation of the pericardium.
- It is the swelling and irritation of the
PERICARDIUM.

3. Etiology
• Common:-
- Viral :- Coxsackie B
- Acute MI
• Less common:-
- Uraemia
- Malignant disease
- Trauma (blunt chest injury)
- Connective tissue disease (systemic lupus
erythematosu)
• Rare:-
- Bacterial infection
- Rheumatic fever
- TB

4. Clinical features
Acute:-
Symptoms:-
- chest pain - pleuritic pain aggravated by change
position,deep inspiration, coughing or swallowing.
- Dyspnoea
- General symptoms:- Fever, sweating, chills
Signs:-
- Tachycardia
- Rapid respiratory rate
- Atrial arrhythmias

5. Investigation
• Chest X - ray
• ECG:- elevation of ST segments, flattening of T
waves.

7. Treatment
• Bed rest
• Salicylates 2-6 gm/day
• Severe cases:- Anti inflammatory drugs
- indomethacin 100-200 mg/day
- ibuprofen 600-1600 mg/ day
• Cochicine 2-6 mg/day

8. Surgical treatment:-
• Aspiration of the pericardium
• Drainage of the pericardium

9. chronic constrictive
pericarditis

10. Definition
Chronic constrictive pericarditis is due to progressive
thickening, fibrosis and calcification of the pericardium.

11. Clinical features
Fatigue
Rapid low- volume pulse
Elevated JVP
Hepatomegaly
Loud early third heart sound
Ascites
Pulus paradoxus

12. Investigation
Chest X-ray :- Triangular shaped heart with
straighten right and left borders and
calcification of pericardium.
ECG :- Low voltage complexes.
 MRI :- Can imageThickened pericardium in
any plane.

14. Reference
 Medicine by Golwalla
 Textbook of pathology by Harsh mohan
 Medicine by Davidson