It is difficult to distinguish between restrictive cardiomyopathy and constrictive pericarditis on the basis of clinical findings and simple investigation. Cardiac catheterisation has been the reference standard for diagnosis but even this does not always permit an accurate distinction. A Summagraphics digitiser and Prime 750 computer system were used to digitise the echocardiograms of 15 patie...

Systolic time intervals in 15 patients with constrictive pericarditis and seven patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy were compared in order to assess their value in the differential diagnosis of the two disorders. Clinical examination had failed to make the distinction. Right heart catheterization was helpful in diagnosing restriction but failed to differentiate patients with constrictive p...

Because of the close anatomic association, the volume or pressure in one ventricle can directly influence the volume and pressure in the other ventricle. Disease states that reduce pericardial compliance should accentuate this coupling between the ventricles. We examined this hypothesis in six dogs. Constrictive pericarditis was induced by injecting an irritant mixture into the pericardial cavi...

Tuberculous (TB) pericarditis is a rare but life-threatening form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The diagnostic strategy and optimal therapy for TB pericarditis are not well established. We retrospectively analyzed the diagnostic data, clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome in a total of 19 patients with TB pericarditis treated from January 1988 to July 2002. Based on the finding of e...

BACKGROUND Melioidosis is a rare tropical bacterial infection caused by the Gram-negative soil saprophyte, Burkholderia pseudomallei. Melioidosis can mimic a variety of diseases due to its varied presentation, and unless it is treated rapidly, it can be fatal.  A rare case of melioidosis, with pericarditis and pericardial effusion, is described, which demonstrates the value of early diagnosis w...

discussion transthoracic echocardiography disclosed massive pericardial effusion, respiratory variation in mitral and tricuspid inflow e velocity, increased diastolic flow reversal with expiration in the hepatic vein, septum deviation in inspiration toward the left ventricle (lv), preserved lv function, and inferior vena caval (ivc) dilation without any collapse in inspiration. chest computed t...

INTRODUCTION Constrictive pericarditis is a rare complication in the post-renal transplant period. It poses a diagnostic dilemma even in the modern era. Its incidence is not known and tuberculosis is implicated in some of the cases. CASE PRESENTATION A 54-year-old Sri Lankan man, in the sixth year of transplant presented with resistant ascites, shortness of breath and elevated creatinine from...