title: Subacute effusive-constrictive pericarditis: diagnosis by serial echocardiography.
abstract: We report the case of a 30-year-old man with acute pericarditis in whom effusive-constrictive physiology developed rapidly in less than 2 weeks. Serial echocardiography demonstrated a dramatic change in the appearance of the pericardial effusion and the pericardial space. The patient underwent pericardiectomy with symptom relief. The findings at operation included a markedly thickened and inflamed pericardium. The case highlights the role of echocardiography in the evaluation of patients with pericardial disease and the echocardiographic features that prompted early surgical intervention.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Cindy M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Orsinelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy