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Pericarditis
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Pericarditis Treatment
The cause of pericarditis must be identified, if possible.
In most types of pericarditis, it is necessary to treat the pain with analgesics (pain killers). The inflammation of the pericardium is treated with anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDS) such as aspirin and ibuprofen; in some cases, corticosteroids may be prescribed.
Diuretics may be used to remove excess fluid accumulated in the pericardial sac. If the buildup of pericardial fluid makes the heart function poorly or produces cardiac tamponade, it is necessary to drain the fluid through pericardiocentesis (removal of excess fluid from the pericardial sac). Pericardiocentesis may be either percutaneous (using a needle to reach the pericardium, guided with echocardiography, in the procedure room), or surgical (done in the operating room as a minor surgery).
Bacterial pericarditis should be treated with antibiotics. Fungal pericarditis should be treated with antifungal agents.
If the pericarditis is chronic, recurrent, or results in constrictive pericarditis, it may be advisable to perform pericardiectomy (cutting or removal of part of the pericardium).
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• Definition
• Pericarditis Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Pericarditis Symptoms & Signs
• Pericarditis Prevention
• Pericarditis Diagnosis & Tests
• Pericarditis Treatment
• Pericarditis Prognosis
• Pericarditis Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Acute Kidney Failure
• AIDS
• Arrhythmias
• Autoimmune Disorders
• Cardiac Tamponade
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy
• Heart Attack
• Heart Failure
• Myocarditis
• Pericarditis - After Heart Attack
• Pericarditis - Bacterial
• Pericarditis - Constrictive
• Pleural Effusion
• Pleurisy
• Poliomyelitis
• Pulmonary Tuberculosis
• Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
• Rheumatic Fever
• Rubella
• The Flu
Tests & Exams
• Blood Culture
• CBC
• Chest MRI
• Chest X-Ray
• CPK
• CT Scan
• ECG
• Heart MRI
• Pericardial Fluid Culture
• Pericardiocentesis
• WBC Count
Other Topics
• Breath Sounds
• Breathing Difficulty - Lying Down
• Chest Pain
• Chronic
• Contracture Deformity
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Foot, Leg, and Ankle Swelling
• Heart Murmurs and Other Sounds
• Pain Medications
• Respiratory
• Stress and Anxiety
• Sweating - Excessive
• Systemic
Review Date : 10/31/2002
Reviewed By : Elena Sgarbossa, M.D., Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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