Constrictive pericarditis in a contemporary Danish cohort: Aetiology and outcome

Abstract

Objectives. The aetiology and outcome of constrictive pericarditis vary between geographic regions and has changed over time. We describe the diagnostic work-up and outcome in a contemporary cohort of Danish patients with constrictive pericarditis. Design. Hospital databases were searched for patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation for suspected constrictive pericarditis or for patients undergoing pericardiectomy or discharged with the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. Results. We identified 57 patients with constrictive pericarditis diagnosed from 1998 to 2012. Previous surgery and inflammatory disease were the most prevalent underlying conditions. Diagnosis was made primarily by echocardiography and right- and left-sided cardiac catheterisation. Echocardiography was particularly notable for dilated inferior caval vein, increased E/A ratio, and high septal tissue velocity in addition to the presence of septal bounce. Pericardiectomy was performed in 47 patients with a 30-day mortality of 8.5%. Clinical improvement was noted in 69% of cases. Several echocardiographic parameters normalised with time, including markers of diastolic function. Conclusions. Long-term outcome after pericardiectomy is acceptable with clinical improvement and partial resolution of the echocardiographic parameters in the majority of patients.