Constrictive pericarditis

Question 1

Constrictive pericarditis?

Answer 1

Chronic inflammation of the pericardium with thickening and scarring, it limits the ability of the heart to function normally. Often goes undiagnosed as its difficult to distinguish it from restrictive cardiomyopathy and other causes of right heart failure.

Question 2

Constrictive pericarditis risk factors (6)?

Answer 2

Can occur after any pericardial disease process. Common causes are idiopathic, virus, TB, mediastinal irradiation, post-surgical, connective tissue disease.

Question 3

Constrictive pericarditis epidemiology?

Answer 3

Rare. More common in males.

Question 4

Constrictive pericarditis symptoms (4)?

Answer 4

Insideous, jaundice, cachexia, muscle wasting.

Question 5

Constrictive pericarditis signs (3)?

Answer 5

Right heart failure signs (dyspnoea, peripheral oedema, raised JVP, kussmauls sign), pulsatile hepatomegaly

Question 6

Constrictive pericarditis investigations?

Answer 6

Doppler ultrasound, bloods (D-dimer can be used as a negative predictor) ECG, CXR (if PE is suspected)

x ray of PE

Question 7

Constrictive pericarditis complications?

Answer 7

PE, venous infarction, thrombophlebitis, chronic venous insufficiency