Delayed Diagnosis of Constrictive Pericarditis Resulting in Recurrent Heart Failure: A Case Report

Abstract

Constrictive pericarditis can lead to compromised diastolic ventricular filling due to pericardial inflammation and fibrosis. A diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis was established by identifying structural and hemodynamic features through echocardiography. We present a case of constrictive pericarditis, which manifested in the form of gradually worsening dyspnea and lower-extremity edema over a 7 years period. The patient was diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis using echocardiography, and underwent a pericardiectomy.