Final answer:
Dressler syndrome occurs weeks to months after cardiac events and is a secondary pericarditis, while post-infarction pericarditis occurs within days after a myocardial infarction and is a direct response to tissue damage. Factors like preload, afterload, and contractility affect stroke volume and cardiac output, with the heart adapting to changes in blood flow and pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dressler syndrome and post-infarction pericarditis are both inflammatory conditions of the pericardium, which is the sac that surrounds the heart. However, Dressler syndrome is a secondary form of pericarditis, which occurs weeks to months after a heart attack, surgery, or traumatic injury. Post-infarction pericarditis, on the other hand, typically occurs within days after a myocardial infarction (heart attack) as a direct response to heart tissue damage.
Stroke volume and cardiac output are affected by factors such as preload, afterload, and myocardial contractility. Positive factors that enhance contractility include increased sympathetic stimulation and calcium influx, while negative factors may include hypoxia or acidosis. Variations in blood flow and pressure can lead to a cardiac response where the heart adapts to maintain adequate circulation, sometimes leading to hypertrophy or dilation.