title: Symptomatic pericardial constriction without active pericarditis.
abstract: The decision to undergo pericardectomy for symptomatic pericardial constriction is usually dictated by an image of an abnormal pericardium. We report a case of symptomatic pericardial constriction despite radiographic and pathological evidence of a normal pericardium. The patient was successfully treated with a pericardectomy, with resolution of constrictive hemodynamics and symptoms. Our report suggests that a normal pericardium by computed tomography and biopsy should not preclude pericardectomy for patients who have refractory symptoms, physical findings, and intracardiac pressures diagnostic of constrictive pericarditis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Wright-Patterson Medical Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-5529, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steel
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Duming
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DeMott
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haigney
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D010492:Pericardiectomy; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery