Constrictive pericarditis overview
Template:Pericardial constriction Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Atif Mohammad, M.D.
Overview
Pericardial constriction occurs when a fibrotic, adherent pericardium restricts diastolic filling of the heart. It mainly occurs after an episode of acute pericarditis, which may or may not have been symptomatic. There is fibrous scarring of the pericardium and usually fusion of the visceral and parietal pericardium. [1] [2] [3]
Differentiating Pericardial constriction from other Diseases
Constrictive pericarditis must be differentiated from restrictive cardiomyopathy. The evaluation of ventricular interdependence between the two ventricles is the best objective method to distinguish the two syndromes.
References
- ↑ Mehta A, Mehta M, Jain AC. Constrictive pericarditis. Clin Cardiol 1999; 22:334-44.
- ↑ Cameron J, Oesterle SN, Baldwin JC, Hancock EW. The etiologic spectrum of constrictive pericarditis. Am Heart J 1987; 113:354-60.
- ↑ Ling LH, Oh JK, Schaff HV, et al. Constrictive pericarditis in the modern era: evolving clinical spectrum and impact on outcome after pericardiectomy. Circulation 1999; 100:1380-6.