Vol 70, No 6 (2012)
Case studies
Published online: 2012-06-20

open access

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Drainage of pleural effusions in the course of unrecognised constrictive pericarditis: a cause of severe haemodynamic deterioration

Anna Kozieradzka, Karol Adam Kamiński, Agnieszka Małgorzata Tycińska, Tomasz Hirnle, Bożena Sobkowicz
DOI: 10.33963/v.kp.78889
Kardiol Pol 2012;70(6):615-617.

Abstract

Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is a rare disease which can be easily overlooked in the absence of typical pericardial calcification. One of its most frequent manifestations is pleural effusion. We present a case report of a patient with unrecognised CP in whom plerocentesis led to haemodynamic collapse, and we speculate about the potential pathomechanism. No obvious criterion of CP or severe systolic dysfunction was found in baseline echocardiography. We consider that patients with advanced CP are remarkably prone to haemodynamic decompensation secondary to pleural drain

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Polish Heart Journal (Kardiologia Polska)