Pericardial Diseases

Question 1

Define Pericardial Effusion

Answer 1

Accumulation of serous fluid

Question 2

Define Serous

Answer 2

Congestive heart failure, hypoalbuminemia

Question 3

Define Serosanguinous

Answer 3

Blunt chest trauma, malignancy, ruptured MI or aortic dissection

Question 4

Define Chylous

Answer 4

Mediastinal lymphatic obstruction

Question 5

Define Hemopericardium

Answer 5

Accumulation of blood

Question 6

Define Purulent pericarditis

Answer 6

Accumulation of pus

Question 7

On what pathway does pericarditis occur

Answer 7

through viral infection

Question 8

What are the secondary pericarditis

Answer 8

 Acute myocardial infarction
 Cardiac surgery
 Irradiation to the mediastinum
 Processes involving other thoracic structures e.g., pneumonia or pleuritis

Question 9

What is the most common associated systemic disorder

Answer 9

Uremia

Question 10

What are the clinical features seen in pericarditis?

Answer 10

 Atypical chest pain
 Prominent friction rub
 Cardiac tamponade
 Chronic constrictive pericarditis produces a combination
of right-sided venous distention and low cardiac output

Question 11

What are the morphological features seen in pericarditis?

Answer 11

 Appearance of acute pericarditis varies slightly depending on its cause
 Viral or uremia associated pericarditis–fibrinous exudate
 Acute bacterial pericarditis – fibrinopurulent
 Tuberculous pericarditis – areas of caseation
 Pericarditis due to malignancy – shaggy fibrinous
exudate and a bloody effusion
 In most cases acute pericarditis resolves without sequelae

Question 12

What is chronic pericarditis

Answer 12

Extensive suppuration or caseation results in healing by fibrosis

Question 13

what is the appearance seen in chronic pericarditis?

Answer 13

The appearance of chronic pericarditis ranges from delicate adhesions to dense, fibrotic scars that obliterate the pericardial space