Pericardium

Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium, a sac-like structure with two thin layers of tissue that surround the heart to hold it in place and help it work. A small amount of fluid keeps the layers separate so there’s less friction between them as the heart beats. A common If you have chest pain, call 911 right away because you may be having a heart attack. Learn about Overview Pericarditis can be attributed to several factors, including viral, bacterial, fungal and other infections. Other possible causes of pericarditis include Pericarditis can be acute, meaning it happens suddenly and typically doesn’t last long. Or the condition may be "chronic," meaning that it develops over time and may take longer to treat. Both types of pericarditis can disrupt your heart’s normal function. In rare cases, pericarditis can have very serious consequences, possibly leading to abnormal heart rhythm and death. Outlook Pericarditis is frequently mild and may clear up on its own with rest or simple treatment. Sometimes, more intense Recovery time from pericarditis may vary depending on the type of condition and the patient’s health. Consultation with a health care professional can determine this. Other names for pericarditis • Idiopathic pericarditis (no known cause) • Acute fibrinous pericarditis and acute purulent pericarditis (forms of acute pericarditis) • Chronic effusive pericarditis and chronic constrictive pericarditis (forms of chronic pericarditis) • Causes of pericarditis ...

• العربية • ܐܪܡܝܐ • Azərbaycanca • Беларуская • བོད་ཡིག • Bosanski • Català • Čeština • Deutsch • Ελληνικά • Español • Euskara • فارسی • Français • Gaeilge • Galego • Հայերեն • Ido • Bahasa Indonesia • Íslenska • Italiano • עברית • Қазақша • Кыргызча • Latina • Latviešu • Lietuvių • Magyar • Bahasa Melayu • Nederlands • 日本語 • Нохчийн • Norsk bokmål • Norsk nynorsk • Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча • Polski • Português • Română • Русский • Sicilianu • සිංහල • Simple English • Српски / srpski • Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски • Suomi • Svenska • தமிழ் • తెలుగు • ไทย • Türkçe • Українська • Walon • 粵語 • 中文 [ The pericardium, also called pericardial sac, is a double-walled sac containing the fibrous pericardium), and an inner layer made of serous pericardium). The English name originates from the peri- (περί) 'around' and the suffix -cardion (κάρδιον) 'heart'. Anatomy [ ] The pericardium is a tough fibroelastic sac which covers the heart from all sides except at the cardiac root (where the The same mesothelium that constitutes the serous pericardium also covers the heart as the pericardial space or pericardial cavity, which is filled with a small amount of Fibrous [ ] The fibrous pericardium is the outside layer of the pericardium, made up of Serous [ ] The serous pericardium, in turn, is divided into two parts: • The parietal serous pericardium, which lines the interior side of the superficial portion of the pericardial sac, is fused to and inseparable from the fibrous pericardium • The ...

Overview Inflammation of the pericardium covering the heart What is pericarditis? Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, the thin, two-layered, fluid-filled sac that covers the outer surface of your heart. Pericarditis usually develops suddenly and may last from weeks up to several months. The condition usually clears up after three months, but sometimes attacks can come and go for years. Sometimes there is extra fluid in the space between the pericardial layers, which is called Types of pericarditis • Acute pericarditis: Inflammation of the pericardium that develops suddenly along with the sudden onset of symptoms. • Chronic pericarditis: Inflammation of the pericardium that lasts for three months or longer after the initial acute attack. • Constrictive pericarditis: A severe form of pericarditis in which the inflamed layers of the pericardium stiffen, develop scar tissue, thicken and stick together. Constrictive pericarditis interferes with your heart’s normal function. This usually happens after multiple episodes of acute pericarditis over time. • Infectious pericarditis: develops as the result of a viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection. • Idiopathic pericarditis: Pericarditis that doesn’t have a known cause. • Traumatic pericarditis: develops as the result of an injury to the chest, such as after a car accident. • Uremic pericarditis: develops as the result of kidney failure. • Malignant pericarditis: develops as result of a cancer growing in you...

Pericarditis The heart on the left shows the typical outer lining of the heart (pericardium). The heart on the right shows a swollen and infected lining (pericarditis). Pericarditis is swelling and irritation of the thin, saclike tissue surrounding the heart (pericardium). Pericarditis often causes sharp chest pain. The chest pain occurs when the irritated layers of the pericardium rub against each other. Pericarditis is usually mild and goes away without treatment. Treatment for more-severe cases may include medications and, rarely, surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment may help reduce the risk of long-term complications from pericarditis. Symptoms Chest pain is the most common symptom of pericarditis. It usually feels sharp or stabbing. However, some people have dull, achy or pressure-like chest pain. Pericarditis pain usually occurs behind the breastbone or on the left side of the chest. The pain may: • Spread to the left shoulder and neck • Get worse when coughing, lying down or taking a deep breath • Get better when sitting up or leaning forward Other signs and symptoms of pericarditis may include: • Cough • Fatigue or general feeling of weakness or being sick • Leg swelling • Low-grade fever • Pounding or racing heartbeat (heart palpitations) • Shortness of breath when lying down • Swelling of the belly (abdomen) The specific symptoms depend on the type of pericarditis. Pericarditis is grouped into different categories, according to the pattern of symptoms and how l...

This fibroserous sac is comprised of a serous membrane supported by a firm layer of fibrous tissue. The serous membrane is smooth tissue, lined by mesothelium; it secretes a fluid (called serous fluid) that functions as lubrication to lower friction between the heart and structures that surround the heart. • Fibrous pericardium: The fibrous outer layer of the pericardium. It is continuous with the tendon of the diaphragm and is comprised of robust connective tissue that functions to keep the heart from overexpanding when blood volume (inside of the heart) increases. • Serous pericardium: The inside surface of the pericardium that is further comprised of two layers, including the parietal layer (the outer layer that lines the inside surface of the fibrous pericardium) and the visceral layer (the internal surface that comprises the The pericardium also surrounds the great vessels (including the aorta, venae cavae, and pulmonary artery). The fibrous sac can fix the position of the heart by attaching to nearby structures, including the sternum (breastbone), the diaphragm, and the tunica adventitia (the outer layer of the great vessels). A rare congenital (present at birth) defect involves the failure of the pleuropericardial membranes to properly fuse. This leads to a very rare birth defect, called pericardial agenesis. The condition is more common in males, and it may not involve any symptoms at all, but in some instances, it causes impairment of heart function, or could even...

Overview Pericardial effusion (per-e-KAHR-dee-ul uh-FU-zhun) is the buildup of too much fluid in the double-layered, saclike structure around the heart (pericardium). The space between these layers typically contains a thin layer of fluid. But if the pericardium is diseased or injured, the resulting inflammation can lead to excess fluid. Fluid can also build up around the heart without inflammation, such as from bleeding, related to a cancer or after chest trauma. Symptoms Pericardial effusion may not cause any noticeable signs and symptoms, particularly if the fluid has increased slowly. If pericardial effusion signs and symptoms do occur, they might include: • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (dyspnea) • Discomfort when breathing while lying down • Chest pain, usually behind the breastbone or on the left side of the chest • Chest fullness • Lightheadedness or feeling faint • Swelling in the abdomen or legs When to see a doctor Call 911 or your local emergency number if you feel chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes, if your breathing is difficult or painful, or if you have an unexplained fainting spell. See your health care provider if you have shortness of breath. Causes Pericardial effusion can result from inflammation of the pericardium (pericarditis) after an illness or injury. In some settings, large effusions may be caused by certain cancers. A blockage of pericardial fluids or a collection of blood within the pericardium also can lead to this co...

Pericarditis is the inflammation of the The layers have a small amount of fluid between them to prevent friction when the heart beats. When the layers inflame, it can result in chest pain. The cause of most pericarditis isn’t known, but viral infections are responsible for Most of the time, pericarditis resolves on its own. But certain treatments are available to decrease the duration of the condition and prevent recurrences. About This can feel like a Other symptoms include: • • weakness or • trouble breathing, especially when lying down • • • Your symptoms may worsen when you: • lie flat • take deep breaths • cough • swallow If the cause of your pericarditis is Your symptoms may vary, depending on the type of pericarditis you have. When you have sharp chest pain, it’s best to seek medical help right away. Viruses are the most Other infectious causes include: • bacterial infection • fungal infection • parasitic infection Noninfectious causes include: • cardiovascular issues, like a previous heart attack or surgery • tumors impinging on the pericardium • injuries • • • some medications, which is rare • • • some genetic diseases, like familial Mediterranean fever But doctors will often be unable to identify a cause. If this occurs, they’ll label you as having idiopathic pericarditis. It’s important to remember that anyone can get pericarditis. Treatment for pericarditis will depend on its underlying cause. If you have a bacterial infection, a doctor may prescribe antibiotic...