1/35. Pericardial heart disease: a study of its causes, consequences, and morphologic features.This report reviews morphologic aspects of pericardial heart disease. A morphologic classification for this condition is presented. An ideal classification of pericardial heart disease obviously would take into account clinical, etiologic and morphologic features of this condition but a single classification combining these three components is lacking. Pericardial heart disease is relatively uncommon clinically, and when present at necropsy it usually had not been recognized during life. The term "pericarditis" is inaccurate because most pericardial diseases are noninflammatory in nature. Morphologically chronic pericardial heart disease may present clinically as an acute illness. Even when clinical symptoms are present, however, few patients develop evidence of cardiac dysfunction (constriction). When pericardial constriction occurs, it is the result of increased pericardial fluid or increased pericardial tissue or both. Increased fluid is treated by drainage; increased tissue is treated by excision. In most patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis the etiology is not apparent even after histologic examination of pericardia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = pericarditis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/35. Localized pericarditis with calcifications mimicking a pericardial tumor.A 62-year-old man was admitted with increasing palpitations. radiography of the chest demonstrated a calcified mass. magnetic resonance imaging revealed compression of the right ventricle by a tumor. At the time of cardiac catheterization, the coronary arteries were found not to supply blood flow of the mass, and no dip-and-plateau pattern was seen in the right ventricular pressure measurements. At the time of surgery, the mass was found to be a focal calcified thickening of the pericardium containing only pus. The thickening resembled an oval pericardial tumor. Microbiologic examination of the pus revealed propionibacterium acnes.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = pericarditis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/35. pericardiectomy using an oscillating saw.We describe the use of a microoscillating saw on the heart to remove calcific pericardium. This microoscillating saw proved indispensable to achieve a safe pericardiectomy in a 55-year-old woman with thick, severe idiopathic calcific constrictive pericarditis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = pericarditis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/35. pericardiectomy in calcific constrictive pericarditis aided by Midas Rex drill.Surgery for constrictive pericarditis has become a rare entity now. Various non-cardiac surgical measures are sometimes tried to remove the calcific plaques on the surface without damaging the underlying cardiac structures. We report a case of severe calcific pericarditis in which the Midas Rex neurosurgical drill was successfully used to facilitate pericardiectomy. Such a case has not been previously reported in the literature.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = pericarditis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/35. Constrictive pericarditis caused by calcification and organized hematoma 30 years after cardiac surgery.A 54-year-old man, who had undergone atrial septal defect (ASD) closure 30 years previously, was admitted for exertional dyspnea and chest oppression. He presented with right pleural effusion and hepatomegaly. Hemodynamic characteristics were consistent with constrictive pericarditis caused by multiple cystic lesions anterior to the main pulmonary artery and right ventricle, and severe calcification over the posterior and diaphragmatic sides of the heart. magnetic resonance imaging was useful for differential diagnosis of the cystic mass and at surgery, it was revealed that the cystic lesions were old hematoma without cells. pericardiectomy and removal of the calcification were performed safely using an ultrasonic scalpel, without cardiopulmonary bypass, resulting in hemodynamic improvement and relief of his symptoms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.5keywords = pericarditis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/35. Constrictive pericarditis presenting as massive ascites in children: report of one case.Abdominal distension has been described as the most common presenting symptom in children with constrictive pericarditis. This report describes a 13-year-old boy who had abdominal distension with massive ascite and hepatosplenomegaly as an initial presentation. The physical signs of jugular vein engorgement and gallop rhythm as well as the pericardial calcification on the chest roentgenogram lead to the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. After ultrafast computed tomography and cardiac catheterization confirmation, the patient received a pericardiectomy with excellent relief of symptoms. pathology of the pericardium reveals fibrocalcified change, but no acid fast stained bacillus nor granulomatous lesion was observed. The incidence of constrictive pericarditis with evident pericardial calcification in children is extremely low. The diagnostic value of the chest roentgenogram and physical findings for the constrictive pericarditis are addressed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = pericarditis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/35. Coronary obstruction by a calcific pericardial ring.We report the unique case of a 62-year-old man whose left anterior descending artery was intermittently obstructed by a heavily calcified pericardial ring. This is a rare case in which a coronary artery has been compressed because of constrictive pericarditis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = pericarditis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/35. Constrictive pericarditis--a rare but important cause of recurrent cardiac failure: a case report.Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is an uncommon cardiac disease which is often difficult to diagnose because of its vague and myriad clinical presentations. We report a case of a middle-aged lady who had non-specific symptoms and signs for six years before she was eventually diagnosed to have idiopathic constrictive pericarditis. An awareness and understanding of this condition is important, as it is a progressive condition and the likelihood of cure depends very much on its early identification and treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = pericarditis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/35. Idiopathic calcific constrictive pericarditis causing pulmonary stenosis associated with a ventricular septal defect mimicking tetralogy of fallot.We describe an unusual case of pulmonary stenosis caused by calcific constrictive pericarditis associated with a congenital ventricular septal defect in a 16-year-old boy who had a 2-week history of progressive dyspnea, cyanosis, fatigue, and bilateral leg edema. Echocardiographic findings led to an initial diagnosis of tetralogy of fallot; however, findings on chest radiography and CT were suggestive of calcific constrictive pericarditis with pulmonary stenosis, which was then confirmed on cardiac catheterization. Total pericardiectomy and repair of the ventricular septal defect resulted in a satisfactory outcome. Follow-up examinations at 6 and 20 months showed that the patient was asymptomatic and considered to have class I new york heart association functional status. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of calcific constrictive pericarditis with pulmonary stenosis associated with a ventricular septal defect.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3.5keywords = pericarditis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/35. Post-traumatic pericardial calcification.Trauma is a cause of calcific constrictive pericarditis, but less commonly may cause a localized mass. We report such a case in which the mass impinged on the right heart resulting in severe systemic venous stasis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = pericarditis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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