Tumor causing constriction of heart and constrictive pericarditis

Hx

• weakness and fatigability

• edema, right-sided heart failure

Physical exam

• classically, cachexic

• elevated JVP and right-sided pressures

• edema, ascites, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly

EKG

• small voltage, but no electrical alternans

Constrictive pericarditis in TB

• TB patients may have an eggshell-like calcification in the pericardium

Variation of transmitral flow in constrictive pericarditis

• in the left side of the heart, during inspiration, not transmitted because under high pressure

Constrictive pericarditis

• sometimes it’s missed for years and years and years. if you have calcification and symptoms, you can indeed go to the operating room

• it looks like the heart isn’t even beating because you’re looking at the shell

Category: Pathology Notes