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Pericarditis

Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Pericarditis refers to inflammation of the pericardium The pericardium is a sac within which the heart sits. Acute inflammation of this sac is known as acute pericarditis. About 5% of patients who present to A+E with chest pain which is not deemed to be a heart attack or angina are ultimately diagnosed with pericarditis.

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"Pericarditis" strikes again

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

mm has been described in normal subjects) Overall impression: In my opinion and experience, this ECG most likely represents a normal baseline ECG, but with a small chance of pericarditis instead. I texted this to Dr. Smith without any information, and this was his reply: "This could be pericarditis but probably is normal variant."

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You Diagnose Pericarditis at your Peril (at the Patient's Peril!)

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Clinician and EKG machine read of acute pericarditis. While it is true that inferior MI has ST depression in aVL 99% of the time (Bischof and Smith), and that inferolateral ST elevation is the most common distribution for pericarditis, the ST elevation in V3 has "terminal QRS distortion (TQRSD)," (diagnostic of LAD occlusion).

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What do you call fluid collection around the heart?

All About Cardiovascular System and Disorders

There are other tests also for tuberculous pericarditis, but they not as sure as growing the bacterium in culture. Pericardial effusion is usually confirmed by an echocardiogram (ultrasound study of the heart). In addition to cancer and tuberculosis, any other cause of pericarditis can also cause pericardial effusion.

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A man in his 50s with shortness of breath

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

Dyspnea, Chest pain, Tachypneic, Ill appearing: Bedside Cardiac Echo gives the Diagnosis 31 Year Old Male with RUQ Pain and a History of Pericarditis. Cardiac Ultrasound may be a surprisingly easy way to help make the diagnosis Answer: pulmonary embolism. Now another, with ultrasound. What is the Diagnosis? This is a quiz.

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A 20-something with intermittent then acute chest pain

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

No pericardial effusion on ultrasound." First, many on Twitter said "Pericarditis". This is NOT pericarditis, which virtually NEVER has ST depression any where except aVR. ECG diffuse ST elevation, but lacking pericarditis features, and very concerning for acute injury." What do you think?

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Chest Pain and Inferior ST Elevation.

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

PR depression, which suggests pericarditis 4. We also showed that, of 47 cases of pericarditis with ST elevation, none had ST depression in aVL. ) I’ll add the following 2 comments: i ) This patient presumably has effusive-constrictive pericarditis. Absence of any ST depression in aVL. ( Clin Cardiol 22:334-344, 1999 ).