LECTURE: CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISORDERS WEEK: 1 PERICARDITIS Inflammation of the pericardial sac A Normal Heart and Pericardium Location of heart B Heart With Pericarditis CAUSES Viral infections and other microbes Secondary to: Outer layer of pericardium (pulled back to show inner layer) -Pericardium surrounds heart Pericardial cavity filled with fluid Heart Two layers of pericardum Inflamed and thickened layers of pericardium rub against each other and the heart CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS Myocardial infarction (MI) Cardiac surgery Chest pain usually behind the sternum or the left side of the throat Pain can: Spread to left shoulder and neck Get worse when coughing, lying down or taking a deep breath Get better when sitting up or leaning Forward CONSEQUENCES Pericarditis can: Resolve without any significant affect Cause cardiac tamponade Acute Serousmembrane (Fluid Filled) Fluid build up can prevent effective diastole of heart Filling Reduces Filling between chambers of the heart Reduced cardiac output - emergency Progress to a Fibrotic chronic pericarditis Pericardium covering the heart Pericardial sac filled with excess fluid MANAGEMENT Medications to reduce inflammation and oedema surgery Draining of excess pericardial Fluid Removal of pericardium -