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Constrictive Pericarditis in the Light of Multimodal Cardiac Imaging. A Case Report
Roxana Oana Darabont1,2, Cristian Ene2, Alina Ioana Nicula1,3
1"Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
Insights
Constrictive pericarditis (CP) causing heart failure (HF) is rare but treatable. Early suspicion and advanced imaging are key for diagnosis and surgical correction, leading to full recovery.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) due to constrictive pericarditis (CP) is an uncommon but potentially curable condition.
- High clinical suspicion is crucial for diagnosing HF when specific etiological signs are absent.
- Modern imaging modalities like echocardiography and cardiac MRI are vital for accurate CP diagnosis.
Discussion:
- This case report highlights a 60-year-old male with progressive HF successfully treated for CP.
- Diagnosis was confirmed using echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
- Surgical intervention (subtotal pericardectomy) resulted in a complete recovery.
Key Insights:
- Considering rare causes of HF, such as CP, is essential for appropriate patient management.
- Prompt diagnosis through advanced imaging facilitates timely surgical intervention.
- Constrictive pericarditis, though rare, offers significant potential for healing with surgical treatment.
Outlook:
- Emphasizes the need for a broad differential diagnosis in HF cases.
- Underscores the role of advanced cardiac imaging in identifying treatable causes of HF.
- Suggests that early surgical correction of CP can lead to excellent patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Heart failure (HF) caused by constrictive pericarditis (CP) is very rare, but has a significant healing potential. In order to diagnose it, an initial high level of suspicion is imperative, given that HF presents in a setting lacking clinical signs capable of pinpointing a specific aetiology. However, current modern imaging techniques permit the accurate construction of a diagnosis for CP, clearing the way for surgical treatment. We are describing the case of a 60-year-old male who was hospitalised to our Cardiology Department due to a history of HF that gradually progressed to the congestion stage over the past six months. The diagnosis of CP was established after the examination of echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging results. The patient underwent subtotal pericardectomy, and to this date, he has made a full recovery. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the importance of considering less common causes of HF, in addition to the common ones, in order to devise the most appropriate investigations and expedite surgical correction of this condition.
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