title: Constrictive pericarditis after cardiac surgery.
abstract: Constrictive pericarditis may develop as a midterm or late complication of cardiac surgery. Owing to limited incidence and scarce reports in the literature the pathophysiologic determinants of such conditions are scarcely known, although a number of mechanisms have been implicated. This disease often poses major diagnostic issues as its clinical picture at presentation is nonspecific, may develop at any moment during the postoperative follow-up, and transthoracic echocardiography may be not suggestive of the diagnosis. The present paper aims at critically revising the available literature on the topic, emphasizing the need to keep a high level of suspicion for all surgeons and physicians involved in the long-term care of cardiac surgery patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaudino
authors.forename: Amedeo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anselmi
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massetti
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000209:etiology*