ABSTRACT

Constrictive pericarditis is a pericardial disease which limitis ventricular diastolic filling by myocardial compression due to decrease in pericardial elasticity and/or pericardial thickening. It results from a pericardial inflammatory process. Pericardial fibrosis is usually seen with calcification and parietal-visceral pericardial adhesions. Increased venous pressure leads to rise in the pressure of the inferior vena cava and hepatic veins which finally affects the liver. The liver insufficiency due to constrictive pericarditis leads to hepatomegaly, abnormality of sliver function tests, acites and edema. A 17 year old male patient was referred to hospital with complaints of dyspnea and abdominal distension. At the physial examination; blood pressure was 120/80 mmHg, pulse rate was 84/min-and rhythmic. Pulmonary sounds from the mid zone of the right hemithorax could not be heard at the oscultation and matity was present at percussion. The liver was palpable to the extent of 3 cm with dull edge. There was diffuse varicosis at bilaterally at the lower extremity below the edge of the thigh. The patient was referred to the cardiac surgery unit for pericardioectomy due to the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis with pleurisy, ascites, lower extremity varicosis and varicocele as a result of compression of the inferior vena cava.

Keywords: Constrictive pericarditis, ascites, varices