Constrictive pericarditis medical therapy
Template:Pericardial constriction
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Constriction is a progressive disease without spontaneous reversal of thickening or hemodynamic changes. Some patients can be medically managed for several years. Edema can be controlled with diuretics and slowing heart rate can maximize diastolic filling.
Most patients develop significant debility from impaired cardiac output and elevated right and left sided filling pressures. Treatment is complete excision of the pericardium. This operation is associated with 12% mortality.