Abstract | UNLABELLED: Benign acute pericarditis is a common disorder. Although, at first glance, its management appears well defined, the guidelines issued by professional societies with respect to optimal treatment and length of its administration remain vague. METHODS: a brief, anonymous questionnaire probing into treatment practices was sent in April 2005 to all cardiologists of Brittany. RESULTS: we collected 164 analyzable questionnaires out of 248 submitted (66%). The initial investigations in presence of acute pericarditis included an electrocardiogram in 100% of cases, an echocardiogram in 95%, and screening biochemistry in 93% of cases. Systematic hospitalisation was advised by only 24% of cardiologists. Aspirin was prescribed as first choice treatment in 92.5% of cases. Duration of treatment recommendations varied widely, from <5 days by 2.5%, between 5 and 10 days by 25.5%, 11 and 15 days by 23.0%, 16 to 21 days by 35.3%, and for >21 days by 14% of cardiologists. Hospital-based cardiologists were more likely to systematically hospitalise their patients than outpatient practice-based physicians (79.5% versus 5.1%; p<0.001) as well as to order an initial biochemical screening tests (100% versus 81.4%, p<0.01). Cardiologists <42 years of age recommended significantly fewer hospitalisations than older physicians (6.8% versus 36.4%: p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | J C Cornily, G Le Gal, T N Tram-Lebaillif, M Gilard, J Boschat, J J Blanc |
Journal | Archives des maladies du coeur et des vaisseaux
(Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss)
Vol. 99
Issue 1
Pg. 61-4
(Jan 2006)
ISSN: 0003-9683 [Print] France |
Vernacular Title | Péricardite aiguë. |
PMID | 16479891
(Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents
- Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
- Aspirin
- Colchicine
- Ibuprofen
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Topics |
- Acute Disease
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Aspirin
(therapeutic use)
- Colchicine
(therapeutic use)
- France
- Hospitalization
(statistics & numerical data)
- Humans
- Ibuprofen
(therapeutic use)
- Middle Aged
- Pericarditis
(diagnosis, drug therapy)
- Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
(therapeutic use)
- Practice Patterns, Physicians'
(statistics & numerical data)
- Surveys and Questionnaires
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