title: Pericardial conditions: signs, symptoms and electrocardiogram changes.
abstract: This article describes the anatomy and physiology of the pericardium and the signs and symptoms of acute pericarditis, pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade. It illustrates the likely electrocardiogram findings in each of these conditions and discusses how the results, combined with patient history and physical examination, can help emergency nurses make accurate diagnoses.
authors.affiliation: University of Wolverhampton, School of Health.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Humphreys
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D015984:Causality; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000451:nursing; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000451:nursing