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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
Published on: February 8, 2022
Constrictive pericarditis with atrial septal defect
Yoshihisa Tanoue1, Yukihiro Tomita, Takashi Kajiwara
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Insights
This case study details a rare diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis with an atrial septal defect. Surgical intervention led to successful symptom improvement in a 50-year-old male patient.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
Background:
- Constrictive pericarditis (CP) and atrial septal defect (ASD) are distinct cardiac conditions.
- The co-occurrence of CP with ASD is uncommon and presents diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- A 50-year-old male presented with symptoms suggestive of cardiac compromise.
- Transthoracic echocardiography identified an atrial septal defect but provided limited visualization of pericardial thickening.
- Cardiac catheterization was essential for confirming the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis.
Findings:
- The patient underwent successful pericardiectomy and direct closure of the atrial septal defect.
- The surgical procedure was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass during cardioplegic arrest.
- Postoperative recovery was uneventful, with significant symptomatic improvement.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of comprehensive diagnostic approaches for rare cardiac conditions.
- Successful surgical management of combined CP and ASD can lead to excellent patient outcomes.
- Further research into the diagnostic nuances of co-existing CP and ASD may be warranted.
Abstract:
We report on a case of constrictive pericarditis (CP) with atrial septal defect (ASD) in a 50-year-old man. The combination of CP with ASD is rare and occasionally difficult to diagnose. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated ASD, but the finding of a thickened pericardium was poor. Diagnosis was confirmed by cardiac catheterization. Pericardiectomy and direct closure of ASD was performed during cardioplegic arrest under the support of cardiopulmonary bypass. The postoperative course was uneventful with marked improvement in symptoms.
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