Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardial sac surrounding the heart that causes chest pain. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, uremia, myocardial infarction, or autoimmune disorders. Symptoms include chest pain worsened by deep breathing or lying down, fever, and potential heart failure from fluid buildup or tamponade. Diagnosis involves patient history, physical exam for rubs, ECG changes, imaging like echocardiogram, and labs. Treatment focuses on identifying and treating the underlying cause with rest, drainage procedures, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and steroids along with pain management and monitoring for complications like cardiac tamponade.

1. PERICARDITIS

2. • Pericarditis: is a condition caused by
inflammation of the pericardial sac
,which may occur on an acute basis.

3. Etiology
• Idiopathic
Infectious
• Virus- Coxsackievirus B group
• Bacteria-pneumococci
• Fungus- histoplasma
Noninfectious
• Uremia
• MI
• Neoplasm
• Trauma
AUTOIMMUNE/HYPERSENSITIVITY
• Dresslers syndrome
• Rheumatic fever
• Rheumatoid arthritis

5. Clinical Manifestations
• chest pain
located beneath the clavicle, in the neck, or in the
left scapula region
may worsen with deep inspiration and when lying
down or turning
may be relieved with a forward leaning or sitting
position.

6. • mild fever
• Dyspnea and other signs and symptoms of
heart failure may occur as the result of pericardial
compression due to constrictive pericarditis or
cardiac tamponade.

7. Complications
• Pericardial effusion
fluid collection in pericardial space
• Cardiac tamponade
it develops when pericardial effusion increases in
volume
pulses paradoxus is present

8. Assessment and
Diagnostic Findings
• patient’s history
• Physical examination
signs of pericardial friction rub on auscultation
• 12-lead ECG detects ST changes
• Chest x-ray- cardiomegaly
• Echocardiogram
• Lab invst-
elevated WBC,CRP,ESR
Pericardial biopsy- analysis

9. Management
• Identifying treating the underlying problems
• patient is placed on bed rest
• Pericardiocentesis,
procedure in which the pericardial fluid is removed
• Antibiotic therapy
• Analgesics and NSAIDs such as aspirin or ibuprofen
• Corticosteroids (eg, prednisone)

10. Nursing management
Assessment
• The nurse caring for the patient with pericarditis must be
alert to the possibility of cardiac tamponade

11. Nursing management
Assessment
• The nurse caring for the patient with pericarditis must be
alert to the possibility of cardiac tamponade
Interventions
• Pain management
elevate head end to 45 degrees
cardiac table
antinflammatory drugs
• Monitor for complications