Pericarditi

Clinical diagnosis?Clinical signs.
• Progressive, frequently severe chest pain, generally worse
when lying supine, relieved by sitting and might radiate to the
neck, arms. Since the phrenic nerve crosses the pericardium,
pericarditis is often responsible of pain to the trapezius
muscle ridges.
• Dyspnea worsened with decubitus dorsal.
• Additional symptoms can be observed, particularly fever,
cough, sputum production, and weight loss, but are generally
related to underlying diseases.
Physical examination
•A pericardial friction rub is pathognomonic. The intensity vary
quickly and it is best heard at the left sternal border at end of
expiration with the patient leaning forward. It is audible
throughout the respiratory cycle which makes the difference
from pleural rub.
TO LISTEN
•http://www-sante.ujf-grenoble.fr/sante/CardioCD/cardio/
chapitre/405.htm
•Clinical signs in favor of tamponade (pulsus paradoxus)
should be searched.