Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium with a wide range of clinical presentation, from subtle to devastating. It is diagnosed by established histologic, immunologic, and immunochemical criteria. Myocarditis is described as "an inflammatory infiltrate of the myocardium with necrosis and/or degeneration of adjacent myocytes." It usually manifests in an otherwise healthy person and can result in rapidly progressive (and often fatal) heart failure and arrhythmia. In the clinical setting, myocarditis is synonymous with inflammatory cardiomyopathy.
Nursing Diagnosis for Myocarditis
- Pain related to inflammation of the myocardium, systemic effects of infection, tissue ischemia.
- Activity Intolerance related to inflammation and degeneration of myocardial muscle cells, decreased cardiac output.
- Risks for Decrease Cardiac Output related to degeneration of heart muscle, decreased / constricting ventricular function.
- Knowledge Deficit : about the condition, treatment plan related to less knowledge / memory.