Medical-surgical Nursing Demystified

CHAPTER 1 Cardiovascular System^41

Myocarditis

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Inflammation of the heart muscle is usually caused by infection, most often viral.
Infection can also be caused by alcohol poisoning from chronic alcohol abuse,
drugs, or diseases that can result in the degeneration of heart muscle. This reduces
the ability of the heart to pump blood efficiently, leading to congestive heart failure.

PROGNOSIS

Outcomes vary depending on the etiology. Improvement depends on the stresses
of the causative disease. Some resolve spontaneously; others develop dilated car-
diomyopathy, CHF.

HALLMARK SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Fever because of infectious process


• Tachycardia


• Difficulty breathing (dyspnea) because left side dysfunction leads to CHF


• Chest pain


• Hear sounds:
  
  
  • S3 gallop due to fluid overload
  
  
  
  

INTERPRETING TEST RESULTS

• EKG.
  
  
  • ST-segment changes due to inflammatory changes in the heart due to the
    irritability of the myocardium from an infectious process.
  
  
  
  


• Endomyocardial biopsy to determine a specific organism and the presence of
  inflammation after infection has resolved.


• CXR—cardiomegaly.


• Echocardiogram to assess cardiac size and function.


• Labs—CK, MB, and troponins because of cell injury and death.

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