Constrictive pericarditis after cardiac surgery

Ital Heart J. 2001 Jul;2(7):553-5.

Abstract

Constrictive pericarditis is an infrequent complication of cardiac surgery. We report the case of a young woman who developed dyspnea and ascites 3 years after surgical closure of an atrial septal defect, and the findings at chest X-ray, computed tomographic scan and Doppler echocardiography are described. Epidemiology of the disease, new pathophysiologic concepts, diagnostic features, and therapeutic targets are reviewed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / diagnosis
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / physiopathology
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Pericarditis, Constrictive / etiology*