title: Pericardial disease in children.
abstract: This article discusses the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of pericardial disease in the pediatric age group. Purulent pericarditis is a medical and surgical emergency. Prompt surgical drainage and intravenous antibiotic therapy may be lifesaving. The pathogenesis and hemodynamic consequences of pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, pericardial constriction and pneumopericardium are also discussed. The key to intelligent management of pericardial disease is an appreciation of the fact that the abnormal hemodynamics resulting from these disorders can frequently only be relieved by cardiac decompression.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010496:Pericardium / Q000002:abnormalities; D011026:Pneumopericardium / Q000209:etiology; D011185:Postpericardiotomy Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications