Management of Pericarditis in Children.

The pericardium is a double-walled sac containing the heart and the roots of the great vessels. The pericardial sac has two layers, a serous visceral l layer (also known as epicardium when it comes into contact with the myocardium) and a fibrous parietal layer. It encloses the pericardial cavity, which contains pericardial fluid. The pericardium fixes the heart to the mediastinum, gives protection against infection and provides lubrication for the heart. Pericardial diseases may be either isolated disease or part of a systemic disease Diseases of the pericardium present clinically in one of several ways * Acute and recurrent pericarditis * Pericardial effusion without major hemodynamic compromise * Cardiac tamponade with cardiac compromise * Constrictive pericarditis