Flashcards in Constrictive Pericarditis Deck (10):
1
Name 3 infective causes of constrictive pericarditis
TB, pneumococci, staphylcocci, coxsackie B, adenovirus
2
Name 3 other possible causes
Radiation, post cardiac surgery, autoimmune (SLE, scleroderma, arthritis), uraemia (from long term dialysis) or drugs like hydralazine, idiopathic
3
What is the most common cause in the developed world?
Idiopathic
4
What is the most common cause world wide?
TB
5
Name the most common clinical feature
Breathlessness
6
Name 3 other clinical features
Fatigue, orthopnoea, elevated JVP, kussmaul's sign (paradoxical rise in breathing rate), soft/ impalpable apex beat.
S3, hepatomegaly, ascites and peripheral oedema may also be present
7
Investigations
CXR, CT/MRI, echocardiogram, cardiac catherization may be required to do a cardiac biopsy. Mantoux testing may be done to test for TB
8
Management includes?
Treatment of cause, diuretics, some require resection of the pericardium which is curative but has a high complication rate
9
What would you be looking for on a CXR?
Small heart, pericardial calcification, pleural effusion and dilated vena cava
10