Review of pericardial diseases: Etiopathology, diagnosis and treatment options

The pericardium is a watertight sac that envelops the heart and the great vessels. It is affected by various disease states, and its tough and inelastic nature means that acute accumulation of small amounts of fluid, or fibrosis and scarring processes affecting it may impede filling of cardiac chambers and reduce cardiac output. This is the main impact that the pericardium has in pathological states. In this review, we address the anatomy and physiology of the pericardium and the various pathophysiological conditions that affect it. We then review the various treatment options available to treat different pathologies affecting the pericardium.