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Severe adhesive constrictive pericarditis after coronary artery bypass
Southern Medical Journal
|January 1, 1980
Summary
Constrictive pericarditis developed nine months after bypass surgery. The thickened pericardium was too adhered for surgical removal.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
Background:
- Constrictive pericarditis is a condition where the pericardium becomes stiff and thick, restricting heart function.
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a common surgical procedure to improve blood flow to the heart.
Observation:
- A patient presented with symptoms of constrictive pericarditis nine months post-triple saphenous vein bypass.
- Clinical presentation included typical signs and symptoms suggestive of constrictive pericarditis.
Findings:
- Cardiac catheterization confirmed the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis.
- Surgical exploration revealed a severely thickened pericardium, densely adherent to the heart and great vessels, rendering pericardiectomy technically impossible.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare but serious complication of CABG surgery.
- The intimate adherence of the thickened pericardium poses significant surgical challenges, impacting treatment options.