Pericardial diseases

Diseases may affect the pericardium surrounding the heart. When the pericardium becomes infected, an inflammatory condition is called pericarditis. Pericarditis may result from infectious causes (such as glandular fever, cytomegalovirus, tuberculosis, or Q fever), or from systemic diseases such as tumors and elevated uric acid levels. In addition to other reasons. Pericarditis affects the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. Another condition is the accumulation of fluid within the pericardial cavity, called pericardial effusion. When this condition leads to acute heart failure, it is called cardiac tamponade or cardiac tamponade. The trapped fluid may be blood from a traumatic injury or fluid from an effusion.[63] This condition can put pressure on the heart and affect its function. Fluid can be removed from the pericardial sac using a syringe, a procedure called pericardiocentesis.[64]