title: Constrictive pericarditis after cardiac surgery.
abstract: Constrictive pericarditis is an infrequent complication of cardiac surgery. We report the case of a young woman who developed dyspnea and ascites 3 years after surgical closure of an atrial septal defect, and the findings at chest X-ray, computed tomographic scan and Doppler echocardiography are described. Epidemiology of the disease, new pathophysiologic concepts, diagnostic features, and therapeutic targets are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Hospital Sandro Pertini, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vairo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciavatti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trambaiolo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palamara
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salustri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000209:etiology*