Constrictive pericarditis natural history

Template:Pericardial constriction Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Natural History

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

Complications

Failure to diagnose or treat constrictive pericarditis could result with severe complications.

Other complications include:

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

Prognosis

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:

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