Diagnosing and treating pericarditis and myocarditis in the emergency department.

Abstract

Pericarditis and myocarditis represent a challenging set of diseases to diagnose and treat. These diseases typically present with chest pain and dyspnea in previously healthy young people, often in the weeks following a viral illness, including COVID-19. Nonetheless, the etiologies can be very diverse, including infectious, noninfectious, drug-induced, and autoimmune causes. This review focuses on the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of emergency department patients presenting with pericarditis and myocarditis and summarizes current guidelines and best-practice medical management strategies in order to avoid potential life-threatening cardiac complications.