PERICARDITIS

• Chest pain- both pleuritic and positional
• Diagnosis: ECG (not echo), best is MRI which is never done: Diffuse ST elevation, depressed PR is pathognomonic
• Rx: NSAID + Colchicine. Stay away from steroids esp if viral as it increases recurrence

PERICARDIAL EFFUSION

• Aet: Pericarditis
• CF: SOB/pericarditis
• Dx: Echo
• Rx- as for pericarditis
• F/U: if fluid still present- pericardial window

PERICARDIAL TAMPONADE

• Righ sided HF: JVD + Hypotension + Decreased heart sounds } Beck's triad
• Clear lungs
• Pulsus paradoxus > 10mmHg
• Rx: Pericardial centesis without waiting for echo as it is clinical diagnosis
• F/U: Intravenous fluid of you cannot get to OR fast enough

CONSTRICTIVE PERICARDITIS

• Pathology: repeated pericarditis
• Pt: Diastolic CHF
• Pericardiac knock
• Dx: Echo
• Rx: pericardiectomy