Constrictive pericarditis after cardiac surgery.
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.
Vairo
G
G
Emergency Department, Hospital Sandro Pertini, Rome, Italy.
Ciavatti
M
M
Trambaiolo
P
P
Palamara
A
A
Salustri
A
A
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*