A Case Of Early Phase Dialysis Associated Effusive Constrictive Pericarditis With Distinct Surgical Findings

A 55-year-old male patient with a 10 year history of hemodialysis was admitted for examination of pericardial effusion. Specific echocardiography, MRI, and cardiac catheterization findings strongly suggested a diagnosis of effusive constrictive pericarditis. Pericardiectomy showed the following distinct findings. Two layers of fibrous tissue below the thickened pericardium emerged. The cardiac constriction had not been relieved until the inner layer was partially resected. We conclude that patients in dialysis associated constrictive pericarditis should Undergo pericardiectomy before the adhesion between fibrous tissues becomes hard. (Int Heart J 2009; 50; 685-691)