Symptomatic pericardial constriction without active pericarditis.
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.
Steel
Kevin
K
Department of Internal Medicine, Wright-Patterson Medical Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-5529, USA.
Duming
Steven J
SJ
DeMott
Chad
C
Haigney
Mark
M
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