Citation

Bernard F, Richard R, Maurin F, Gandjbakhch I, Ollivier JP. Ann. Cardiol. Angeiol. (Paris) 1998; 47(1): 7-10.

Vernacular Title

La pericardite constrictive: une complication sous-estimee des traumatismes

Affiliation

Service de Cardiologie, Hôpital Militaire du Val-de-Grâce, Paris.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9772925

Abstract

Constrictive pericarditis is a well defined clinical entity, traditionally secondary to longstanding tuberculosis. Although posttraumatic constrictive pericarditis, due to haemopericardium, is well known during the postoperative period following cardiac surgery, it is underestimated in closed chest trauma. A new case of constrictive pericarditis is reported, due to neglected chest trauma. The discussion emphasizes the need for early diagnosis and surgical treatment, which determine the general prognosis of pericardial constriction. This implies systematic investigation of all cases of chest trauma, even minor, by transthoracic, or preferable, transoesophageal echocardiography, looking for haemopericardium.

Language: fr