TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Pericarditis A1 - Sutton, Nicole A2 - Zaoutis, Lisa B. A2 - Chiang, Vincent W. Y1 - 2017 N1 - T2 - Comprehensive Pediatric Hospital Medicine, 2e AB - Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, a two-layered structure that surrounds the heart. The inner layer adheres to the heart. There is usually about 15 to 35 mL of serous fluid in the pericardial space. This fluid provides lubrication during the contraction of the heart. The pericardial sac functions as a barrier to protect the heart from infection from the lungs, fix the heart to the mediastinum, prevent extreme dilation of the heart, equalize compliance between the right and left sides of the heart, and reduce friction between the heart and the surrounding structures. Pericarditis can be acute or chronic, and has a variety of causes. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/20 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1146115450 ER -