Pericarditis : Causes

Pericarditis is usually a complication of viral infections, most commonly echovirus or coxsackie virus. Less frequently, it is caused by influenza or HIV infection. Infections with bacteria can lead to bacterial pericarditis (also called purulent ...

The viruses that cause pericarditis include those that cause influenza, polio, and rubella (German measles). In children, the most common viruses that cause pericarditis are the adenovirus and the cocksackievirus (which is most likely to affect ch...

Adenoviruses are small infectious agents that cause upper respiratory tract infections, conjunctivitis , and other infections in humans. Adenoviruses were discovered in 1953.

Adenoviruses are DNA viruses (small infectious agents) that cause upper respiratory tract infections, conjunctivitis , and other infections in humans. Adenoviruses were discovered in 1953.

Bacteria are prokaryotes (unicellular organisms with no membrane-enclosed nucleus) with simple structures that typically range in size from about 0.5 to 20 micrometers.

Enteric cytopathic human orphan (ECHO) viruses are a group of enteroviruses that produce varying symptoms including rashes , respiratory illness, croup-like syndromes, and nonspecific fevers.

Fungal infections of the skin are among today ' s most common infectious diseases, and they occur worldwide. Superficial fungus infections fall into three broad categories: the dermatophytes (ringworm), tinea versicolor, and cutaneous candidiasis (yeast infection).

Fungi are types of parasitic plants that include molds, mildew, and yeast. A fungal infection is an inflammatory condition in which fungi multiply and invade the skin, the digestive tract, the genitals, and other body tissues, particularly, the lungs and liver.

Open heart surgery is any surgery where the chest is opened and surgery is performed on the heart. The term "open" refers to the chest, not the heart itself. The heart may or may not be opened, depending on the type of surgery. Open heart surgery includes surgery on the heart muscle, valves, arteries, or other structures. A heart-lung machine (also called cardiopulmonary bypass) is usually during conventional open heart surgery to help provide oxygen-rich blood to the brain and other vital organs. The machine also pumps, supplies oxygen, removes carbon dioxide from the blood, and provides anesthesia to keep the patient asleep during surgery. The definition of open heart surgery becomes confusing in light of new procedures being performed on the heart through smaller incisions. There are some new surgical procedures being performed that are done with the heart still beating. Minimally invasive heart surgery (MIDCAB, OPCAB, RACAB) , including robotic-assisted heart surgery, is still considered open heart surgery. However, these procedures are being used in some patients as an alternative to open heart surgery requiring the heart-lung machine. Related topics: Angioplasty of the heart Atrial septal defect repair Cardiac transplant Coarctation of the aorta repair Congenital heart defect corrective surgery Heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft - CABG) Heart transplant Heart valve prosthesis Heart valve surgery Heart-and-lung transplant Hypoplastic left heart repair Minimally invasive heart surgery (MIDCAB, OPCAB, RACAB) Patent ductus arteriosus ligation PDA ligation Prosthetic heart valves Tetralogy of Fallot repair Total anomalous pulmonary venous return correction Transplant of the heart Transplant of the heart and lungs Transposition of great vessels repair Tricuspid atresia repair Truncus arteriosus repair Valve replacement Ventricular septal defect repair VSD repair

Heart surgery for congenitaal defects consists of a variety of surgical procedures that are performed to repair the many types of heart defects that may be present at birth and can go undiagnosed into adulthood. Purpose Heart surgery for congenital defects is performed to repair a defect, providing improved blood flow to the pulmonary and systemic circulations and better oxygen delivery to the body.