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{{WBRQuestion
{{WBRQuestion
|QuestionAuthor=Raviteja Reddy Guddeti MBBS,  Aarti Narayan MBBS
|QuestionAuthor=Raviteja Reddy Guddeti MBBS,  Aarti Narayan MBBS (Edited by Will GIbson)
|ExamType=USMLE Step 3
|ExamType=USMLE Step 3
|MainCategory=Primary Care Office
|MainCategory=Emergency Room
|SubCategory=Infectious Disease, Cardiovascular, Infectious Disease
|SubCategory=Infectious Disease, Cardiovascular, Infectious Disease
|MainCategory=Primary Care Office
|Prompt=A 65 yr old male with a past medical history of tuberculosis presents to the clinic concerned about progressive shortness of breath for the past few months. He also complains of weakness, fatigue, and weight gain during this period. Physical examination shows increased abdominal girth, bilateral pedal edema, hepatomegaly and an increase in jugular venous pressure on deep inspiration. Cardiac auscultation reveals an extra diastolic heart sound. Chest X-ray demonstrates calcification in the precordial area and EKG shows diffuse low voltage QRS complexes with flattened T waves. What is the most appropriate initial therapy for this patient?
|SubCategory=Infectious Disease, Cardiovascular, Infectious Disease
|Explanation=This patient has [[constrictive pericarditis]] as a result of chronic tuberculosis infection. Constrictive pericarditis occurs when a fibrotic or calcified, adherent pericardium restricts diastolic filling of the right side of the heart. It is most commonly caused by conditions or events that cause inflammation to develop around the heart, including: tuberculosis, radiation therapy, or neoplastic infiltration.  Patients will often present with signs of [[right heart failure]] including edema, ascites, or jugular venous distention.  Physical exam findings commonly include a positive [[Kussmaul's sign]] (increase of JVD on inhalation) and a [[pericardial knock]] (the sound produced by blood hitting a rigid ventricle during diastole).  Constrictive pericarditis must be differentiated from restrictive cardiomyopathy. Imaging studies showing calcification strongly favor the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis, while cardiomegaly favors the diagnosis of restrictive cardiomyopathy.  Electrocardiography and echocardiography can also help distinguish the two (see: [[Constrictive pericarditis differential diagnosis]]).
|MainCategory=Primary Care Office
 
|SubCategory=Infectious Disease, Cardiovascular, Infectious Disease
Constrictive pericarditis should be treated with diuretics followed by pericardial resection. Diuretics should be administered prior to surgery to acutely relieve the symptoms of heart failure.  The pericardium is then resected to allow the heart to relax effectively during diastole, and thereby relieve symptoms of systemic and pulmonary congestion.
|MainCategory=Primary Care Office
 
|MainCategory=Primary Care Office
'''Educational Objective:''' Pericardial resection is necessary for the treatment of constrictive pericarditis.
|SubCategory=Infectious Disease, Cardiovascular, Infectious Disease
 
|MainCategory=Primary Care Office
'''References:''' Master the Boards Step 2 CK 2013 page 101
|SubCategory=Infectious Disease, Cardiovascular, Infectious Disease
|MainCategory=Primary Care Office
|SubCategory=Infectious Disease, Cardiovascular, Infectious Disease
|MainCategory=Primary Care Office
|SubCategory=Infectious Disease, Cardiovascular, Infectious Disease
|MainCategory=Primary Care Office
|MainCategory=Primary Care Office
|SubCategory=Infectious Disease, Cardiovascular, Infectious Disease
|Prompt=A 65 yr old male with a past medical history of tuberculosis presents to the clinic concerned about progressive shortness of breath for the past few months. He also complains of weakness, fatigue, and weight gain. Physical examination shows increased abdominal girth, bilateral pedal edema, hepatomegaly and an increase in jugular venous pressure on deep inspiration. Auscultation revealed an extra diastolic heart sound. Chest X-ray showed calcification in the precordial area and EKG showed diffuse low voltage QRS complexes with flattened T waves. What is the most important therapy to immediately treat this patient?
|Explanation=This patient has constrictive pericarditis as a result of tuberculosis. The correct therapy for this patient is pericardial resection. The pericardium is resected to relieve symptoms of systemic and pulmonary congestion, which causes the heart to relax effectively during diastole.
|AnswerA=Pericardiocentesis
|AnswerA=Pericardiocentesis
|AnswerAExp=Pericardiocentesis is the treatment for a pericardial effusion.
|AnswerAExp='''Incorrect:''' [[Pericardiocentesis]] refers to the removal of fluid within the pericardial space by aspiration.  While pericardiocentesis is the appropriate treatment for a [[pericardial effusion]], this patient has [[constrictive pericarditis]].  Constrictive pericarditis is often characterized by calcification and fibrosis, but not fluid accumulation.  Thus, there is no fluid to remove and pericardiocentesis is ineffective for constrictive pericarditis.
|AnswerB=Pericardial resection
|AnswerB=Pericardial resection
|AnswerBExp=Pericardial resection is the correct answer.
|AnswerBExp='''Correct:''' Pericardial resection is necessary for the treatment of constrictive pericarditis.  However, diuretics should be administered first to acutely relieve the symptoms of heart failure.  Because diuretic therapy was not an option in this question, pericardial resection is the next best answer.
|AnswerC=Beta blockers
|AnswerC=Beta blockers
|AnswerCExp=Beta blockers are not indicated for the treatment of this patient.
|AnswerCExp='''Incorrect:''' [[Beta blockers]] are not indicated for the treatment of constrictive pericarditis.
|AnswerD=Antituberculous therapy
|AnswerD=Antituberculous therapy
|AnswerDExp=Antitubercular therapy is used for treating constrictive pericarditis secondary to tuberculosis, however pericardial resection should be done first.
|AnswerDExp='''Incorrect:''' While antitubercular therapy is indicated for the treatment of constrictive pericarditis secondary to tuberculosis, pericardial resection should be performed first.
|AnswerE=Glucocorticoids
|AnswerE=Glucocorticoids
|AnswerEExp=Glucocorticoids are used when the pericarditis is secondary to a chronic inflammatory process.
|AnswerEExp='''Incorrect:''' Glucocorticoids are indicated for pericarditis secondary to a chronic inflammatory process such as [[systemic lupus erythematosis]].  In contrast, non-recurrent pericarditis caused by viral infections or myocardial infarction should be treated with NSAIDs or aspirin respectively.
|RightAnswer=B
|RightAnswer=B
|WBRKeyword=Pericarditis, Constrictive pericarditis, Pericardium, Tuberculosis, TB, Heart failure
|Approved=Yes
|Approved=Yes
}}
}}
{{WBRImage}}
{{WBRImage}}

Latest revision as of 23:05, 27 October 2020

 
Author PageAuthor::Raviteja Reddy Guddeti MBBS, Aarti Narayan MBBS (Edited by Will GIbson)
Exam Type ExamType::USMLE Step 3
Main Category MainCategory::Emergency Room
Sub Category SubCategory::Infectious Disease, SubCategory::Cardiovascular, SubCategory::Infectious Disease
Prompt [[Prompt::A 65 yr old male with a past medical history of tuberculosis presents to the clinic concerned about progressive shortness of breath for the past few months. He also complains of weakness, fatigue, and weight gain during this period. Physical examination shows increased abdominal girth, bilateral pedal edema, hepatomegaly and an increase in jugular venous pressure on deep inspiration. Cardiac auscultation reveals an extra diastolic heart sound. Chest X-ray demonstrates calcification in the precordial area and EKG shows diffuse low voltage QRS complexes with flattened T waves. What is the most appropriate initial therapy for this patient?]]
Answer A AnswerA::Pericardiocentesis
Answer A Explanation [[AnswerAExp::Incorrect: Pericardiocentesis refers to the removal of fluid within the pericardial space by aspiration. While pericardiocentesis is the appropriate treatment for a pericardial effusion, this patient has constrictive pericarditis. Constrictive pericarditis is often characterized by calcification and fibrosis, but not fluid accumulation. Thus, there is no fluid to remove and pericardiocentesis is ineffective for constrictive pericarditis.]]
Answer B AnswerB::Pericardial resection
Answer B Explanation [[AnswerBExp::Correct: Pericardial resection is necessary for the treatment of constrictive pericarditis. However, diuretics should be administered first to acutely relieve the symptoms of heart failure. Because diuretic therapy was not an option in this question, pericardial resection is the next best answer.]]
Answer C AnswerC::Beta blockers
Answer C Explanation [[AnswerCExp::Incorrect: Beta blockers are not indicated for the treatment of constrictive pericarditis.]]
Answer D AnswerD::Antituberculous therapy
Answer D Explanation AnswerDExp::'''Incorrect:''' While antitubercular therapy is indicated for the treatment of constrictive pericarditis secondary to tuberculosis, pericardial resection should be performed first.
Answer E AnswerE::Glucocorticoids
Answer E Explanation [[AnswerEExp::Incorrect: Glucocorticoids are indicated for pericarditis secondary to a chronic inflammatory process such as systemic lupus erythematosis. In contrast, non-recurrent pericarditis caused by viral infections or myocardial infarction should be treated with NSAIDs or aspirin respectively.]]
Right Answer RightAnswer::B
Explanation [[Explanation::This patient has constrictive pericarditis as a result of chronic tuberculosis infection. Constrictive pericarditis occurs when a fibrotic or calcified, adherent pericardium restricts diastolic filling of the right side of the heart. It is most commonly caused by conditions or events that cause inflammation to develop around the heart, including: tuberculosis, radiation therapy, or neoplastic infiltration. Patients will often present with signs of right heart failure including edema, ascites, or jugular venous distention. Physical exam findings commonly include a positive Kussmaul's sign (increase of JVD on inhalation) and a pericardial knock (the sound produced by blood hitting a rigid ventricle during diastole). Constrictive pericarditis must be differentiated from restrictive cardiomyopathy. Imaging studies showing calcification strongly favor the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis, while cardiomegaly favors the diagnosis of restrictive cardiomyopathy. Electrocardiography and echocardiography can also help distinguish the two (see: Constrictive pericarditis differential diagnosis).

Constrictive pericarditis should be treated with diuretics followed by pericardial resection. Diuretics should be administered prior to surgery to acutely relieve the symptoms of heart failure. The pericardium is then resected to allow the heart to relax effectively during diastole, and thereby relieve symptoms of systemic and pulmonary congestion.

Educational Objective: Pericardial resection is necessary for the treatment of constrictive pericarditis.

References: Master the Boards Step 2 CK 2013 page 101
Educational Objective:
References: ]]

Approved Approved::Yes
Keyword WBRKeyword::Pericarditis, WBRKeyword::Constrictive pericarditis, WBRKeyword::Pericardium, WBRKeyword::Tuberculosis, WBRKeyword::TB, WBRKeyword::Heart failure
Linked Question Linked::
Order in Linked Questions LinkedOrder::


Image [[WBRImage::|]] Caption WBRImageCaption::no-display Position [[WBRImagePlace::|]]