Pericardium

Definition and function The pericardium, also called pericardium in medicine, is a bag made of connective tissue that surrounds the heart, except for the outgoing vessels. The pericardium serves as a protective cover and prevents the heart from expanding excessively. Anatomy and position The pericardium consists of two layers: the layer that lies directly on … Pericardium

Pericardial effusion

Introduction Pericardial effusion is an increased accumulation of fluid (from about 50 ml) in the pericardium. In order to be able to easily understand this, one should first consider the anatomical conditions in the mediastinum (mediastinal space). In the mediastinum, the heart lies within the pericardium. The pericardium consists of two parts: One is the … Pericardial effusion

Therapy | Pericardial effusion

Therapy There are generally three types of treatment options that can be combined depending on the cause. First, conservative treatment can be used. Depending on the cause, antibiotics (for infections), glucocorticoids or antiphlogistics (anti-inflammatory drugs) are administered. For pain, painkillers such as acetylsalicylic acid (equivalent to Aspirin®) are also used. The second option is to … Therapy | Pericardial effusion

Aortic rupture

Definition A complete tear in the wall of the aorta is called an aortic rupture. An aortic rupture is extremely rare and must be surgically treated as soon as possible, otherwise it is absolutely fatal. Even a small tear in the aorta leads to massive bleeding into the body within a very short time. A … Aortic rupture