Pericarditis

Cardiologists at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart provide advanced diagnosis and treatment for pericarditis.

Pericarditis care at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart

Cardiologists at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart provide advanced diagnosis and treatment for pericarditis.

Why choose us

We are one of only 15 sites nationwide and the only hospital in Tennessee participating in the American Heart Association’s Addressing Recurrent Pericarditis initiative. Through this initiative, we’re working to improve care for the 40,000 people in the U.S. living with recurrent pericarditis by. Our goal is to empower patients with education and tools, providing providers with the latest evidence-based treatment guidance, and enhance diagnosis, care and quality of life.

Multidisciplinary team: Cardiologists with expertise in pericardial disease collaborate with heart failure specialists, cardiac imaging experts, rheumatologists, infectious disease, and cardiothoracic surgeons as needed.
Advanced imaging: On‑site cardiac MRI, echocardiography, and hemodynamic testing to distinguish pericarditis from other causes of chest pain and heart failure.
Experience with complex cases: We care for patients with recurrent, treatment‑resistant or constrictive pericarditis and pericardial effusions referred from across Middle Tennessee and the region.
Access to clinical trials and novel therapies: Participation in national registries and research gives eligible patients access to emerging immunologic and anti‑inflammatory therapies.

Your chest pain could be pericarditis

Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, the thin sac that surrounds your heart. It often causes sharp chest pain and symptoms that can mimic a heart attack or other heart conditions. Sometimes, symptoms may be less typical. If left untreated, pericarditis can lead to serious complications. At Ascension Saint Thomas Heart, we provide thorough diagnosis and personalized treatment for pericarditis right here in Nashville, Tennessee.

Pericarditis conditions we treat include:

Acute, recurrent and chronic pericarditis
Pericardial effusion and tamponade
Constrictive pericarditis
Pericardial cysts and masses
Pericardial complications after surgery, infection or autoimmune disease

Symptoms of pericarditis

If you're experiencing symptoms, it’s important to know whether it could be pericarditis. Symptoms of pericarditis may include:

Sharp, stabbing chest pain (worse when lying down, better when sitting up)
Shortness of breath
Fatigue or general weakness
Fever and chills
Irregular heartbeat or palpitations
Swelling in the legs or abdomen

If you are experiencing chest pain, especially in combination with jaw or arm pain, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting or difficulty breathing, you might be having a heart attack. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

How we diagnose pericarditis

Our cardiology team uses the latest imaging and testing tools to diagnose pericarditis and evaluate for other heart conditions. Because pericardial disease can mimic other heart and lung conditions, our team uses a stepwise diagnostic approach combining ECG, advanced cardiac imaging, and, when needed, invasive hemodynamic assessment to confirm the diagnosis and guide treatment. Common diagnostic tools include:

A blood test is a lab analysis of things that may be found in your blood. You may have blood tests to keep track of how well you are managing a condition, such as inflammation on blood tests and other tests to monitor response to medications. You may also have them for routine checkups or when you are ill.

This procedure uses a combination of large magnets, electromagnetic energy, and a computer to make detailed images of organs and structures in your body. Your doctor may order a cardiac MRI to detect active pericardial inflammation, thickening, edema and complications such as pericardial effusion or constrictive physiology. By offering pericardial mapping and late gadolinium enhancement, cardiac MRI helps guide targeted treatment plans and supports improved outcomes for patients with suspected or recurrent pericardial disease.

It's used to identify fluid around the heart and heart function. During the procedure, a transducer (like a microphone) sends out sound waves at a frequency too high to be heard. When the transducer is placed on the chest at certain locations and angles, the sound waves move through the skin and other body tissues to the heart tissues. The waves bounce or "echo" off the heart structures. These sound waves are sent to a computer that can create moving images on the screen of the heart walls and valves.

This test records the electrical activity of the heart, shows abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias), and can sometimes detect heart muscle damage.

This is also known as a cardiac or heart cath. For this test, your doctor guides a small catheter (hollow tube) through the vessels in your wrist, arm, neck, or upper leg to your heart. This procedure lets your doctor take a close look at the heart to identify concerns or when constrictive pericarditis or restrictive cardiomyopathy is suspected.

How we treat pericarditis

With leading technologies and advanced treatment options, Ascension Saint Thomas Heart delivers personalized care at every stage of pericarditis to relieve chest pain, achieve long‑term remission and prevent complications such as constrictive pericarditis or recurrent effusions, including:

Your doctor may use different procedures to treat your condition, including draining excess fluid or, in rare cases, with referral to experienced surgeons for surgery when needed including:

Pericardiocentesis: Pericardiocentesis is a procedure done to remove fluid that has built up in the sac around the heart (pericardium). It's done using a needle and small catheter to drain excess fluid.
Pericardial window: A pericardial window is a procedure done on the sac around the heart. Surgically removing a small part of the sac lets your surgeon drain extra fluid from the sac and into the pleural cavity.
Pericardiectomy: A pericardiectomy is a procedure done on the sac around the heart. A surgeon cuts away this sac or a large part of this sac. This allows the heart to move freely.

Your cardiologist may recommend medications to help manage your condition. Medication may include NSAIDs, colchicine, and advanced immunologic therapies when appropriate, guided by current national and international pericarditis guidelines.

Close collaboration is often needed with rheumatologists for autoimmune, post‑COVID, and other inflammatory pericarditis.

Clinical trials

Our doctors participate in clinical trials for pericarditis. Access to clinical trials gives you the opportunity to participate in emerging immunologic and anti-inflammatory therapies. These research studies may help provide you with more advanced treatment options. To learn about our cardiovascular clinical trials, talk to our care team or call 615-222-5533.

How to get care

stethoscope

Schedule a consultation with a heart specialist at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart. Early detection and treatment of pericarditis can help prevent serious complications and help you feel better, faster. You may see several specialists in a single, coordinated visit so we can provide a clear diagnosis and plan as quickly as possible. Schedule an appointment by calling 615-284-2025.

What to expect:

Before your visit: Prior imaging and labs will be requested and reviewed, along with medical records from other providers.
Day of visit: You’ll be evaluated with a pericardial specialist with same‑day imaging when possible.
After your visit: Your specialist will share a written plan with your referring doctor, along with a follow‑up plan and remote monitoring options.

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.