Highlights constrictive pericarditis as a potential complication following aortocoronary bypass surgery that can be effectively treated with pericardiectomy.
May support pericardiectomy in select post-CABG constriction cases; leaves open need for prospective confirmation.
A 61-year-old man had progressive dys pnea along with signs and symptoms sug gesting severe right heart failure following aortocoronary bypass surgery. He was ini tially treated with indomethacin, digoxin, and furosemide, but with no major change in his condition. Four months after opera tion the patient presented with clinical find ings compatible with the postpericardiotomy syndrome and hemodynamic evidence of constriction. Pericardiectomy resulted in a marked improvement in his functional ca pacity. The possible mechanism for peri cardial constriction following open heart surgery is discussed.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Samant et al. (1980) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched one closely related paper. Consider it for comparative context: