pericarditis
/,perikɑ:'daitis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A medical condition characterized by inflammation of the pericardium, the double-walled sac containing the heart and the roots of the great vessels.
Usage
The word "pericarditis" is used exclusively as a medical term to describe a specific inflammatory condition. It is typically used in clinical, diagnostic, and patient education contexts.
Examples
- The patient was admitted to the hospital with acute chest pain, and the ECG findings were consistent with pericarditis.
- Viral infections are a common cause of pericarditis.
- Chronic pericarditis can sometimes lead to complications like pericardial effusion.
Advanced Usage
- Constrictive pericarditis: A chronic form where the inflamed pericardium becomes thick and scarred, restricting the heart's normal filling.
- The patient's symptoms of fatigue and swelling were due to constrictive pericarditis.
- Recurrent pericarditis: A condition where episodes of inflammation reoccur after an initial attack.
- Managing recurrent pericarditis often requires long-term anti-inflammatory medication.
Variants and Related Words
- Pericardial (adjective): Pertaining to the pericardium.
- A pericardial rub is a classic auscultatory finding in pericarditis.
- Pericardiocentesis (noun): A procedure to drain fluid from the pericardial sac.
- Pericardiocentesis was performed to relieve cardiac tamponade.
Synonyms
- Pericardial inflammation: A direct descriptive synonym.
- The doctor's note indicated pericardial inflammation.
Related Phrases
- Idiopathic pericarditis: Pericarditis where the cause is unknown.
- Most cases of acute pericarditis are idiopathic.
- Post-myocardial infarction pericarditis: Inflammation occurring after a heart attack.
- Dressler syndrome is a type of post-myocardial infarction pericarditis.
Noun
- inflammation of the pericardium