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Published on: January 21, 2020
Chronic constrictive pericarditis
Hossein Doustkami1, Afshin Hooshyar2, Nasrollah Maleki2
1Interventional Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
Insights
Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is a challenging diagnosis, often missed by physicians. This case highlights the diagnostic difficulties and emphasizes the benefits of prompt surgical treatment for constrictive pericarditis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is a rare condition with diagnostic challenges.
- Symptoms like dyspnea, pleural effusion, and ascites can be misattributed to other diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case of constrictive pericarditis (CP) that illustrates diagnostic difficulties.
- To discuss the diagnostic workup and the benefits of prompt treatment for CP.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a patient with unexplained dyspnea, ascites, and pleural effusion.
- Diagnostic investigations included ascitic fluid analysis, echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiac catheterization.
- Treatment involved complete pericardiectomy.
Main Results:
- Ascitic fluid analysis showed high protein content and elevated serum-ascites gradient.
- Cardiac catheterization confirmed constrictive pericarditis with equalization of end-diastolic pressures.
- The patient recovered well after pericardiectomy.
Conclusions:
- Constrictive pericarditis (CP) diagnosis requires high clinical suspicion and thorough investigation.
- Prompt surgical intervention, such as pericardiectomy, leads to good outcomes in CP.
Abstract:
Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is a rare clinical entity that can pose diagnostic problems. The diagnosis of CP requires a high degree of clinical suspicion. The gold standard for diagnosis is cardiac catheterization with analysis of intracavitary pressure curves, which are high and, in end diastole, equal in all chambers. We present a patient with unexplained dyspnea, recurrent right-side pleural effusion, and ascites. Analysis of the ascitic fluid revealed a high protein content and an elevated serum-ascites gradient. Echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiac catheterization revealed the diagnosis of CP. He underwent complete pericardiectomy and to date has made a good recovery. The diagnosis of CP is often neglected by admitting physicians, who usually attribute the symptoms to another disease process. This case exemplifies the difficulty in diagnosing this condition, as well as the investigation required, and provides a discussion of the benefit and outcomes of prompt treatment.
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Pericarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests
Pericarditis III: Medical Management
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