Pericardial Abnormalities Seen on Echocardiography in The Jos University Teaching Hospital

Introduction: A 2-D Echocardiographic manifestations of pericardial disease that are not mutually exclusive were pericardial effusion or pericardial thickening. A significant number of pericardial disease cases however are without this classical features. Methodology: In a retrospective review of pericardial echocardiography in a teaching Hospital compare the two pericardial disease syndromes. Comparism in terms of cor-morbidity and cardiac functions were carried out. Both subjective and objective assessment of echo parameters were considered for analysis. Results: A 1414retrospective records were reviewed and 169 (10%) were seen to have either pericardial effusion 91 (5.6%), thickening 78 (4.8%) or both 6 (0.3%). There was a slight female dominance and lower mean age compared to those without echo pericardial disease findings. Pericardial effusive subjectively were seen to be associated with more cor-morbidities and complications and objectively had echo parameters indicating poor cardiac functional state. Aorta, left atrium, left ventricular internal diameter in diastole and E/A ratio were statistically different. Conclusions: Routine echocardiography assessing pericardial diseases was observer dependent and pericardial effusion had a less favourable outcome than thickened pericardium.