CONSTRICTIVE PERICARDITIS

Course overview

THE PERICARDIUM IS THE FIBROELASTIC SAC THAT COVERS THE HEART. BESIDES ACTING AS A PROTECTIVE BARRIER, IT ALSO AFFECTS CARDIAC HEMODYNAMICS. CONSTRICTIVE PERICARDITIS IS A CONDITION IN WHICH GRANULATION TISSUE FORMATION IN THE PERICARDIUM RESULTS IN LOSS OF PERICARDIAL ELASTICITY LEADING TO RESTRICTION IN THE VENTRICULAR FILLING. IT IS USUALLY A CHRONIC CONDITION HOWEVER SUBACUTE, TRANSIENT AND OCCULT VARIANTS HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, PRESENTATION AND DIAGNOSIS OF CONSTRICTIVE PERICARDITIS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS CONDITION.