Constrictive pericarditis natural history

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1], Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Huda A. Karman, M.D.

Constrictive pericarditis is when there is scarring of the sac (the pericardium) around the heart, which may require surgical stripping of the scar. Failure to diagnose or treat constrictive pericarditis could result with severe complications that include cardiac tamponade, damage to the coronary arteries, heart failure, pulmonary edema, scarring of the heart muscle.

Constrictive pericarditis is when there is scarring of the sac (the pericardium) around the heart, which may require surgical stripping of the scar.

Failure to diagnose or treat constrictive pericarditis could result with severe complications such as: ^[1]

• Cardiac tamponade
• Damage to the coronary arteries
• Heart failure
• Pulmonary edema
• Scarring of the heart muscle

Constrictive pericarditis may be life threatening if left untreated. However, surgery to treat the condition is associated with a relatively high complication rate and is usually reserved for patients who have severe symptoms.

The long-term outcome of patients who have undergone the surgery have been adverse due to these factors:^[2]

• Advanced age
• Poor renal function
• Abnormal left ventricular systolic function
• High pulmonary artery systolic pressure
• Lower serum sodium level
• Postradiation cause
• Worsening NYHA classification

nl:Pericarditis constrictiva

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