Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Dressler syndrome; Post-MI pericarditis; Post-cardiac injury syndrome; Postcardiotomy pericarditis
Treatment
The goal of treatment is to make the heart work better and reduce pain and other symptoms.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) or aspirin may be used to treat inflammation of the pericardium. Usually aspirin, even in high doses, is preferred in early post-MI pericarditis. In extreme cases, when other medicines don't work, steroids or colchicine may be used.
In some cases, excess fluid surrounding the heart (pericardial effusion) may need to be removed. This is done with a procedure called
Support Groups
Expectations (prognosis)
The condition may come back, even in people who receive treatment. In some cases, untreated pericarditis can be life threatening.
Complications
Cardiac tamponade Congestive heart failure Constrictive pericarditis
Calling your health care provider
Call your health care provider if:
- You develop symptoms of pericarditis after a heart attack
- You have been diagnosed with pericarditis and symptoms continue or come back, despite treatment
Previous Section
Review Date: 07/10/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, Unviersity of Washington
School of Medicine; and Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Assistant
Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical
Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle,
Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
