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Published on: December 2, 2016
Constrictive pericarditis after cardiac surgery
G Vairo1, M Ciavatti, P Trambaiolo
1Emergency Department, Hospital Sandro Pertini, Rome, Italy.
Insights
Constrictive pericarditis, a rare cardiac surgery complication, can manifest years later. This case highlights diagnostic findings for this serious condition, emphasizing timely recognition and management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Pericardial Diseases
Background:
- Constrictive pericarditis is an uncommon complication following cardiac surgery.
- Early diagnosis and management are crucial for patient outcomes.
Observation:
- A young woman presented with dyspnea and ascites three years post-atrial septal defect repair.
- Diagnostic imaging included chest X-ray, CT scan, and Doppler echocardiography.
Findings:
- Imaging revealed characteristic signs of constrictive pericarditis.
- The case underscores the delayed presentation of this condition.
Implications:
- This case emphasizes the importance of considering constrictive pericarditis in post-cardiac surgery patients with relevant symptoms.
- Reviewing epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics, and therapeutics aids clinical practice.
Abstract:
Constrictive pericarditis is an infrequent complication of cardiac surgery. We report the case of a young woman who developed dyspnea and ascites 3 years after surgical closure of an atrial septal defect, and the findings at chest X-ray, computed tomographic scan and Doppler echocardiography are described. Epidemiology of the disease, new pathophysiologic concepts, diagnostic features, and therapeutic targets are reviewed.
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