Uremic pericarditis physical examination


 * Associate Editor-In-Chief: Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S.; Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.

Physical examination
Patients may present with fever, cachexia and varying levels of consciousness.

Vitals: Hypotension and pulsus paradoxus are present in cardiac tamponade. The heart rate may be slow due to autonomic impairment or an arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, heart block or a ventricular arrhythmia may be present due to anelectrolyte imbalance.

Neck: Jugular venous distension with a prominent Y descent and Kussmaul's sign

Chest: Ewart's sign may be present. This includes a pericardial knock, pericardial rub(heard best while leaning forwards) and distant heart sounds

Abdomen: Hepatomegaly, ascites

Extremities: Ankle edema