[Management of Constrictive Pericarditis : A study of 43 operated cases]

Abstract

Chronic constrictive pericarditis is a rare condition characterized by clinical signs of right heart failure, due to the symphysis of the two pericardial leaflets. Our study focused on a retrospective analysis of 43 CCP surgery observations collected over an 11-year period (2003-2013). The mean age of the patients was 32 years; 65% were male; exercise dyspnea (95%) was the most frequent sign. Two main etiologies were observed: tuberculosis 58% and idiopathic causes 42%. All of our patients received a subtotal pericardectomy per median sternotomy, of which 95% had no cardiopulmonary bypass.

Keywords: Adiastolia; Adiastolie; Chronic constrictive pericarditis; Pericardectomy; Péricardectomie; Péricardite chronique constrictive; Tuberculose; Tuberculosis.