title: Constrictive/restrictive cardiac physiology: pericarditis or right ventricular infarction?
abstract: Here we report on the case of a 71 year old man who presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of right heart failure and was diagnosed with and successfully treated for constrictive pericarditis. Radiographic, hemodynamic, and intra-operative pathological findings typical of constrictive pericarditis are presented. The potential for right ventricular infarction which can mimic the hemodynamic findings in constrictive pericarditis is also discussed. Pericardiectomy was recommended and was successful in improving the patient's systemic vascular congestion and symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, IA 52242, USA. dan-gavrilla@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gavrila
authors.forename: Phillip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Horwitz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020519:Pericardiocentesis / Q000379:methods; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017725:Ventricular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*