title: Management of tuberculous pericarditis.
abstract: The cases of 17 patients with tuberculous pericarditis were reviewed. Thirteen patients had effusive pericarditis, and 10 had surgical drainage of the effusion. No deaths were due to pericardial tamponade; this appears to be related to earlier recognition of major pericardial effusions by echocardiography. In 2 patients clinical evidence of pericardial constriction developed while they were on a regimen of therapy, and in another 2 patients, echocardiography revealed pericardial thickening after resolution of the effusion. A pericardial window is recommended for the short-term management of patients suspected of having tuberculous pericarditis with a major pericardial effusion by echocardiography. If a thickened pericardium is found during the window procedure, early pericardiectomy is strongly encouraged.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D010495:Pericarditis, Tuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014381:Tuberculosis, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents