- Inflammation of the lining around the heart (the pericardium) causing chest pain and accumulation of fluid around the heart (pericardial
* * *- acute fibrinous p. the usual lesion of acute p. in which inflammation produces large quantities of fibrin.- adhesive p. p. with adhesions between the two pericardial layers, between the pericardium and heart, or between the pericardium and neighboring structures. SYN: adherent pericardium.- carcinomatous p. p. due to infiltration of carcinomatous cells, usually from surrounding structures.- chronic constrictive p. scarring of the pericardium with thickening of the membrane and prolonged constriction of the cardiac chambers.- constrictive p. postinflammatory thickening and scarring of the membrane producing constriction of the cardiac chambers; may be acute, subacute, or chronic. Formerly called chronic constrictive p..- epistenocardiac p. p. accompanying transmural myocardial infarction and limited to the area over the infarct. SYN: p. epistenocardica.- p. epistenocardica SYN: epistenocardiac p..- fibrinous p. acute p. with fibrinous exudate. SEE ALSO: bread-and-butter pericardium. SYN: hairy heart, p. villosa, shaggy pericardium.- p. obliterans inflammation of the pericardium leading to adhesion of the two layers, obliterating the sac. SEE ALSO: adhesive p..- postmyocardial infarction p. an acute form of p. usually developing 1 week after a myocardial infarction.- postpericardiotomy p. a syndrome characterized by fever, substernal chest pain, and pericardial rub following cardiac surgery.- purulent p. p., usually bacterial, with pus in the sac. SYN: empyema of the pericardium, pyopericardium.- p. villosa SYN: fibrinous p..
* * *peri·car·di·tis -.kär-'dīt-əs n, pl -dit·i·des -'dit-ə-.dēz inflammation of the pericardium see ADHESIVE PERICARDITIS
* * *n.acute or chronic inflammation of the membranous sac (pericardium) surrounding the heart. Pericarditis may be seen alone or as part of pancarditis (see endomyocarditis). It has numerous causes, including virus infections, uraemia, and cancer. Acute pericarditis is characterized by fever, chest pain, and a pericardial friction rub. Fluid may accumulate within the pericardial sac (pericardial effusion). Rarely, chronic thickening of the pericardium (chronic constrictive pericarditis) develops. This interferes with activity of the heart and has many features in common with heart failure, including oedema, pleural effusions, ascites, and engorgement of the veins. Constrictive pericarditis most often results from tubercular infection.The treatment of pericarditis is directed to the cause. Pericardial effusions may be aspirated by a needle inserted through the chest wall. Chronic constrictive pericarditis is treated by surgical removal of the pericardium (pericardiectomy).
* * *peri·car·di·tis (per″e-kahr-diґtis) [pericardium + -itis] inflammation of the pericardium. pericarditic adj
Medical dictionary. 2011.