title: [Constrictive pericarditis illustrated by an unusual case report].
abstract: Constrictive pericarditis is an uncommon condition. Previously, tuberculosis or other bacterial infections were prevalent causes, often with prominent pericardial calcification. Presently, many patients with constrictive pericarditis of other aetiologies have lesser degrees of structural changes in the pericardium. We report on a case with severe symptoms where the correct diagnosis was elusive because of absent or minimal preoperative pericardial pathology. The clinical, echocardiographic and haemodynamic features of constrictive pericarditis are reviewed. We recommend thorough echocardiographic evaluation of central haemodynamics in patients with symptoms of heart failure when the aetiology is not readily apparent (e.g. previous myocardial infarction dilated cardiomyopathy or valvular disease.
authors.affiliation: Medisinsk avdeling B, Rikshospitalet, Oslo.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ihlen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sire
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Almdahl
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D014463:Ultrasonography
vernacular_title: Konstriktiv perikarditt belyst med en uvanlig sykehistorie.