Project description:IntroductionConstrictive pericarditis is characterized by constriction of the heart secondary to pericardial inflammation. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is useful imaging modality for addressing the challenges of confirming this diagnosis. It can be used to exclude other causes of right heart failure, such as pulmonary hypertension or myocardial infarction, determine whether the pericardium is causing constriction and differentiate it from restrictive cardiomyopathy, which also causes impaired cardiac filling.Case presentationA 77-year-old man from a country with high incidence of tuberculosis presented with severe dyspnea. Echocardiography revealed a small left ventricle with normal systolic and mildly impaired diastolic function. Left heart catheterization revealed non-obstructive coronary disease, not felt contributory to the dyspnea. Anatomy imaging with cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) showed global, severely thickened pericardium. Short tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequences for detection of oedema/ inflammation showed increased signal intensity and free breathing sequences confirmed septal flattening on inspiration. Late gadolinium imaging confirmed enhancement in the pericardium, with all findings suggestive of pericardial inflammation and constriction.ConclusionsCMR with STIR sequences, free breathing sequences and late gadolinium imaging can prove extremely useful for diagnosing constrictive pericarditis.
Project description:BackgroundWe present a 23-year-old Nepalese migrant with mycobacterial tuberculosis (TB) pericarditis manifesting as effusive constrictive disease and subsequent rapid progression to constrictive pericarditis resulting from bulky granulomatous disease.Case summaryFollowing initial presumptive diagnosis of TB pericarditis based on presence of moderate pericardial effusion and positive polymerase chain reaction on concurrent pleural aspirate, the patient was managed with standard empiric therapy. Despite treatment, he developed progressive heart failure with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III symptoms and had confirmation of constrictive physiology on simultaneous left and right heart catheterization. He underwent pericardiectomy 4 months after his initial diagnosis, with debridement of large necrotizing granulomas and an associated immediate improvement clinical improvement. He remains well at 6-month follow-up with no residual heart failure symptoms off diuretic therapy.DiscussionTuberculous pericarditis accounts for 1-2% of presentations with TB infection, with progression to constrictive pericarditis in between 17 and 40% of cases. To date, pericardiectomy remains mainstay of treatment for constriction, albeit with high perioperative risk. In combination with anti-tuberculous therapy, prednisone and pericardiocentesis may reduce risk of progression to constriction, however, neither have shown mortality benefit. Our patient continued to progress, despite medical therapy and proceeded to pericardiectomy only 4 months after his initial diagnosis, with rapid improvement in symptoms, demonstrating the importance of close monitoring and revision of management strategy in these patients.
Project description:Constrictive pericarditis is the final stage of a chronic inflammatory process characterized by fibrous thickening and calcification of the pericardium that impairs diastolic filling, reduces cardiac output, and ultimately leads to heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging each can reveal severe diastolic dysfunction and increased pericardial thickness. Cardiac catheterization can help to confirm a diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction secondary to pericardial constriction, and to exclude restrictive cardiomyopathy. Early pericardiectomy with complete decortication (if technically feasible) provides good symptomatic relief and is the treatment of choice for constrictive pericarditis, before severe constriction and myocardial atrophy occur. We describe our surgical approach to constrictive pericarditis, summarize our results in 93 patients, and provide a brief overview of the literature.
Project description:We present the case of a 55-year-old female marathon runner who presented with progressive exercise intolerance and was diagnosed with effusive-constrictive pericarditis. Stereotypical findings of this challenging diagnosis are shown by transthoracic echocardiographic and right heart catheterization. We treated the patient with a parietal pericardiectomy and pericardial waffle procedure to relieve a thick and constrictive epicardium.
Project description:Constrictive pericarditis is a rare cause of right-sided heart failure secondary to a stiff, non-compliant pericardium. Clinical presentation can vary considerably and requires a high suspicion for diagnosis. A 31-year-old male presented to the emergency department with complaints of abdominal distension. An abdominal ultrasound revealed large volume ascites; thus, it was initially suspected he had underlying cirrhosis. However, an echocardiogram revealed a diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. It's important for clinicians to consider constrictive pericarditis in a patient presenting with unexplained right-sided heart failure.
Project description:Constrictive pericarditis is an uncommon disease in children, usually difficult to diagnose. We present the case of a 14-year-old boy with a previous history of tuberculosis and right heart failure, in whom constrictive pericarditis was diagnosed. The case highlights the need to integrate all information, including clinical data, noninvasive cardiac imaging, and even invasive hemodynamic evaluation when required, in order to establish the correct diagnosis and proceed to surgical treatment.
Project description:BackgroundCholesterol pericarditis (CP) remains a rare pericardial disease characterized by chronic pericardial effusions with high cholesterol concentrations with or without the formation of cholesterol crystals. Effusions are often large and can cause ventricular compression and subsequent pericardial adhesion formation. CP can be idiopathic but has associations with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), tuberculosis and hypothyroidism.Case summaryWe present a case of a 72-year-old male with a background of seropositive RA with a finding of an incidental pericardial effusion on computed tomography thorax abdomen and pelvis. Transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated a large effusion with echocardiographic features of tamponade. On review, he was breathless with a raised venous pressure, bilateral ankle oedema, and pulsus paradoxus was present. Pericardial drainage was performed with fluid analysis demonstrating a cholesterol concentration of 8.3 mmol/L and numerous cholesterol crystal formation. Interval imaging demonstrated recurrence of the effusion with pericardial thickening and progressive constriction. He remained asymptomatic and underwent a successful pericardial window. At present, he is under close clinical outpatient surveillance with symptoms guiding a future pericardiectomy if warranted.DiscussionCP can present as an emergent situation with signs and symptoms of acute heart failure with prompt pericardiocentesis required in cases of clinical tamponade. However, the disease course is often one of chronicity with relapsing large effusions that tend to recur following drainage, with the development of pericardial constriction necessitating pericardiectomy for definitive management.