The examination of pericarditis includes physical examination, laboratory examination, imaging examination and special examination.
1. Physical examination: cardiac palpation can detect weakened apical beat and pericardial friction; cardiac percussion can detect turbid or solid heart sounds and heart enlargement; cardiac auscultation can detect pericardial friction, which is more obvious in the left edge of the sternum between the 3-4 intercostal spaces, the lower end of the sternum, and the area of the raphe; there can also be signs such as jugular venous varicose veins, hepatomegaly, peritoneal effusion, and edema of the lower limbs.
2. Laboratory tests: routine blood tests include increased white blood cell count and neutrophil count, increased C-reactive protein, and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
3. Imaging: Chest X-ray: generally no abnormality, but when there is more pericardial effusion, it may show enlarged heart shadow. Echocardiography: It can confirm whether there is pericardial effusion and determine the amount of effusion. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): It can clearly show the amount and location of pericardial effusion, and also helps to distinguish the nature of the effusion and measure the thickness of the pericardium.
4. Special examination: pericardiocentesis can perform routine, biochemical, bacterial culture and search for antacids or cytology on the puncture fluid, which can clarify the cause of the disease.
Patients with pericarditis need to seek timely medical attention and systematic treatment under the guidance of a doctor.