Chronic constrictive pericarditis caused by self-mutilation with sewing needles. A case report and review of published reports.
A 34 year old woman with a history of self-mutilation developed severe constrictive pericarditis with sterile, calcified intrapericardial abscess cavities as a result of inserting sewing needles into her chest seven years previously. After pericardiectomy she made a good recovery.
Keogh
B E
BE
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London.
Oakley
C M
CM
Taylor
K M
KM
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000209:etiology*; D012652:Self Mutilation / Q000150:complications*; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000150:complications*