Pericardial Diseases

• Published in: Current problems in cardiology 2012-03, Vol.37 (3), p.75-118
• Main Authors: Dudzinski, David M., MD, JD, Mak, Gary S., MD, Hung, Judy W., MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Cardiac Tamponade - diagnosis; Cardiac Tamponade - etiology; Cardiac Tamponade - physiopathology; Cardiac Tamponade - therapy; Cardiovascular; Chronic Disease; Heart - physiopathology; Heart Function Tests - methods; Humans; Immunohistochemistry - methods; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Pericardial Effusion - diagnosis; Pericardial Effusion - etiology; Pericardial Effusion - physiopathology; Pericardial Effusion - therapy; Pericardiectomy - methods; Pericardiocentesis - methods; Pericarditis - diagnosis; Pericarditis - etiology; Pericarditis - physiopathology; Pericarditis - therapy; Pericardium - abnormalities; Pericardium - anatomy & histology; Pericardium - pathology; Pericardium - physiopathology; Pneumopericardium - diagnosis; Pneumopericardium - etiology; Pneumopericardium - physiopathology; Pneumopericardium - therapy; Postpericardiotomy Syndrome - diagnosis; Postpericardiotomy Syndrome - etiology; Postpericardiotomy Syndrome - physiopathology; Postpericardiotomy Syndrome - therapy; Radiography, Thoracic - methods; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
• ISSN: 0146-2806; 1535-6280
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2011.10.002

Abstract The pericardium provides an enclosed lubricated space for the beating heart and functions to fix the heart in the chest cavity relative to adjacent organs. Pericardial pathophysiology is often manifested in a spectrum of distinct cardiac and systemic disease states. The pericardial response to injury typically involves a spectrum of inflammation with both acute and chronic features and/or fluid accumulation. Recent advances in imaging methods have refined the diagnosis and therapy of pericardial disease. This article presents the anatomy and physiology of pericardial disease and the clinical approach for diagnosis and treatment.