title: The role of surgical exploration in the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. A case report.
abstract: Both constrictive pericarditis and restrictive cardiomyopathy present as biventricular failure. Although it is rarely necessary, surgical exploration may be required to definitively diagnose constrictive pericarditis. A case illustrating the value of surgical exploration is reported.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Urschel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakai
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kubac
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002313:Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery