Acute Pericarditis

Acute pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium classically presenting with sharp, pleuritic chest pain that improves when sitting forward.

In this episode, Chris and Mars review:

• Classic positional chest pain and the pericardial friction rub
• Diffuse ST elevation and P R depression
• The four diagnostic criteria for acute pericarditis
• How to distinguish pericarditis from STEMI and myocarditis
• First-line treatment with aspirin or an NSAID plus colchicine
• Uremic and post-MI pericarditis
• High-risk features that warrant hospitalization
• Pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, and recurrent pericarditis

Episode pearl: Diffuse ST elevation plus positional pleuritic chest pain should make you think acute pericarditis—then look for an effusion and signs of tamponade.

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