Principles of Critical Care > Part III. Cardiovascular Disorders > Chapter 28. Pericardial Disease Israel Belenkie

Key Points

"A pericardial cause of otherwise unexplained low cardiac output should always be considered in critically ill patients. Pericardial inflammation or infection may also deserve consideration. This chapter focuses largely on the hemodynamic implications of constraint to ventricular filling and the approach to diagnosis and treatment of pericardial disease. The goals are to provide the reader with tools to assess the potential for suspected or known pericardial disease to relieve a patient's condition. The reader should refer to standard cardiology texts to learn the details of specific causes of pericardial disease (Table 28-1)...."