- Is an inflammation of the pericardium which occurs approximately 1 to 6 weeks after acute MI.
- In MI, pericarditis results as an antigen - antibody response. the necrotic tissues play the role of an antigen, which trigger antibody formation. Inflammatory process follows.
- Pericardial effusion/ cardiac tamponade is outpouring of fluid into the pericardial sac. Compression of the heart occurs, followed by decrease in ventricular emptying. This further, may lead to cardiac failure, shock and death. This may follow pericarditis.
- Constrictive pericarditis is a condition in which a chronic inflammatory thickening of the pericardium compresses the heart so that it is unable to fill normally during diastole.
- Clinical manifestations of pericarditis include the following:
- Pain in the anterior chest, aggravate by coughing, yawning, swalllowing, twisting and turning the torso; relieved by upright, leaning forward position.
- Pericardial friction rub - scrtchy, grating or creaking sound.
- Dyspnea
- Fever, sweating and chills
- Joint pains
- Arrythmias
- Elevate head of bed, place pillow on the overbed table so that the patient can lean on it.
- Bed rest
- Administer prescribed pharmacotherapy:
- ASA to suppress inflammatory process.
- Corticosteroids for more severe symptoms.
- Assist in pericardiocentesis if cardiac tamponade is present.
- Pericardiocentesis is aspiration of blood / fluid from pericardial sac.
- It is common in transmural MI
- It causes immediate caediac tamponade and death.
