Heart failure due to a post-traumatic calcified pericardial hematoma

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Trauma Surgery

Background:

• Chest-wall trauma can cause pericardial bleeding, leading to inflammation, calcification, and scarring.
• These processes may result in pericardial constriction, a serious cardiac condition.

Observation:

• An unusual case of a man with a history of chest trauma at age 16 is presented.
• Forty years later, he developed heart failure due to a large, calcified pericardial hematoma.

Findings:

• The pericardial mass became deeply embedded in the myocardium during its prolonged development.
• The condition manifested as both constrictive and restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Implications:

• Complete surgical resection of the deeply embedded lesion was not achievable.
• The hemodynamic impact of the lesion could not be fully resolved, posing long-term management challenges.