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Summary
The pericardium is a membrane, or sac, that surrounds your heart. It holds the heart in place and helps it work properly. Problems with the pericardium include:
- Pericarditis - an inflammation of the sac. It can be from a virus or other infection, a heart attack, heart surgery, other medical conditions, injuries, and certain medicines.
- Pericardial effusion - the buildup of fluid in the sac
- Cardiac tamponade - a serious problem in which buildup of fluid in the sac causes problems with the function of the heart
Symptoms of pericardial problems include chest pain, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty breathing. Fever is a common symptom of acute pericarditis. Your doctor may use a physical exam, imaging tests, and heart tests to make a diagnosis. Treatment depends on the cause.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
-
Heart Inflammation
(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
Also in Spanish
Diagnosis and Tests
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Heart Health Tests: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Acute Pericarditis (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish
- Chronic Pericarditis (Merck & Co., Inc.) Also in Spanish
- Dressler Syndrome (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
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Malignant Pericardial Effusion
(National Cancer Institute)
- Pericardial Effusion (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Pericarditis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Pericarditis (Texas Heart Institute) Also in Spanish
- Recurrent Pericarditis (American Heart Association)
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Pericardial Effusion
(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Pericarditis
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: The association between omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and 3...
- Article: Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Pericarditis, Myocarditis, and Myopericarditis in Patients...
- Article: Clinical analysis of 255 children with multiple serous effusions.
- Pericardial Disorders -- see more articles
Patient Handouts
- Cardiac tamponade (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Pericardiocentesis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Pericarditis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Pericarditis - after heart attack (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Pericarditis - constrictive (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.