Emergency Medical Minute

Contributor: Meghan Hurley MD Educational Pearls: Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardial sac, which can arise from infectious or non-infectious etiologies Myocarditis is inflammation of the myocardium, which may accompany pericarditis Pericarditis clinical findings include: Diffuse concave ST elevation, classic for acute pericarditis with myocardial involvement. More common in younger male patients Elevated high-sensitivity troponin - higher levels may occur in young healthy patients Ultrasound may show pericardial effusions POCUS may be helpful in assessing left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) via E-point septal separation (EPSS) Elevation in EPSS correlates with decreased LVEF Treatments: Anti-inflammatories including NSAIDs and colchicine Monitor inflammation Repeat ultrasounds Risk factors in this patient’s case: mRNA COVID vaccine - the risk of myocarditis from vaccination is significantly lower than that from COVID-19 infection Preceding infection Re