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An Intact Pericardium Ischemic Rodent Model
Published on: September 2, 2021
Idiopathic chronic constrictive pericarditis secondary to calcified pericardial haematoma
Nael Al-Sarraf1, Kishore Doddakula, David Moore
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland. trinityq8@hotmail.com
Insights
A rare calcified pericardial hematoma caused constrictive pericarditis symptoms. Prompt surgical intervention for this chronic presentation can be curative.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Pathology
Background:
- Pericardial hematoma is typically an acute condition resulting from chest trauma.
- Chronic presentations are exceptionally rare and poorly understood.
- Constrictive pericarditis symptoms can mimic other cardiac conditions.
Observation:
- A patient presented with symptoms of chronic constrictive pericarditis.
- Imaging revealed a calcified mass in the pericardium.
- The patient had no history of chest wall injury.
Findings:
- The mass was diagnosed as a chronic, calcified pericardial hematoma.
- This rare entity mimicked other causes of constrictive pericarditis.
- Surgical excision was performed.
Implications:
- Recognizing chronic calcified pericardial hematoma is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
- Surgical treatment offers a curative option for this rare condition.
- This case expands the known clinical spectrum of pericardial hematoma.
Abstract:
Pericardial haematoma is a rare entity that is thought to arise acutely as a consequence of blunt chest wall injury. We report our experience with a chronic form of presentation in which calcified pericardial haematoma presented as a mass causing chronic constrictive pericarditis symptoms in a patient with no prior history of chest wall injury. The ability to recognize such a rare occurrence is vital as surgery will often be curative.
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