[Constrictive pericarditis: an underestimated complication of thoracic injuries]

Constrictive pericarditis is a well defined clinical entity, traditionally secondary to longstanding tuberculosis. Although posttraumatic constrictive pericarditis, due to haemopericardium, is well known during the postoperative period following cardiac surgery, it is underestimated in closed chest trauma. A new case of constrictive pericarditis is reported, due to neglected chest trauma. The discussion emphasizes the need for early diagnosis and surgical treatment, which determine the general prognosis of pericardial constriction. This implies systematic investigation of all cases of chest trauma, even minor, by transthoracic, or preferable, transoesophageal echocardiography, looking for haemopericardium.