Pericarditis Flashcards
(36 cards)
What are the most common causes of pericarditis?
Viral infections, bacterial infections, and occasionally fungal infections
Viral infections are the most common cause of pericarditis.
What events may lead to the development of pericarditis after a heart attack?
Days or weeks after a heart attack
Pericarditis can develop as a complication following a myocardial infarction.
List some medical procedures that can lead to pericarditis.
- Blunt or penetrating chest trauma
- Open-heart surgery
- Coronary angioplasty
- Implantable defibrillator or pacemaker insertion
These procedures can irritate the pericardium, leading to inflammation.
What type of therapy may also cause pericarditis?
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy, particularly when targeting areas near the heart, can result in pericardial inflammation.
In which patient conditions can pericarditis develop?
- Kidney failure
- Inflammatory disorders (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, lupus)
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Lymphoma
- Leukemia
These conditions can contribute to the inflammation of the pericardium.
What is idiopathic pericarditis?
Pericarditis with no identifiable cause
In many cases, the underlying reason for the inflammation remains unknown.
What should you ask the patient about in relation to pericarditis?
Recent flulike signs and symptoms
Patients may relate a history of a recent upper respiratory infection.
What are some common symptoms a patient with pericarditis may describe?
Fever with shaking chills, shortness of breath, coughing, skin rash, weight loss
These symptoms may be related to underlying conditions.
What is the most common symptom of pericarditis?
Chest discomfort
How do patients typically describe the chest pain associated with pericarditis?
Sharp, stabbing pain or steady, constricting pain
What makes the chest discomfort associated with pericarditis worse?
Deep inspiration, coughing, or lying flat
What position often improves the discomfort of pericarditis?
Sitting up and leaning forward
Where is chest discomfort from pericarditis most often located?
Under the sternum, left anterior chest, or epigastrium
What type of heart sound may be present in a patient with pericarditis?
Pericardial friction rub
How is the pericardial friction rub described?
Scratchy or grating sound caused by contact between the visceral and parietal pericardium
When is the pericardial friction rub best heard?
With the patient leaning forward at the third to fifth intercostal space (ICS) to the left of the sternum
What additional signs may be present in a patient with pericarditis?
Fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, pale appearance, JVD may be present
What does the presence of JVD indicate in pericarditis?
Possible pericardial effusion
What would breath sounds typically be like in a patient with pericarditis?
Normal unless another condition, such as heart failure, exists
What does the ECG often reveal in a case of pericarditis?
ST-segment elevation in multiple leads
What are some conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis for pericarditis?
Recent MI, lupus, kidney disease, leukemia, Hodgkin disease, lymphoma, chest trauma, heart surgery
Fill in the blank: The discomfort associated with pericarditis may mimic the discomfort of an _______.
ACS
True or False: The discomfort of pericarditis typically improves when lying flat.
False
What is the primary focus of prehospital care?
Supportive care
Prehospital care aims to stabilize the patient until they can receive further medical treatment.
