Abstract 14421: Avoid Pericardiectomy in Transient Constrictive Pericarditis

Case Presentation: A male in his 40s presented for chest pain, dyspnea and bilateral leg edema. He has a history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treated with septal myectomy complicated by constrictive pericarditis (CP) that was treated with right-sided pericardiectomy, NSAIDs, colchicine, and steroids. Echo showed LVEF of 55% with thickening of the pericardium, abnormal septal bounce, tethering of the right atrium, respiratory variation in flow across the mitral and tricuspid valves and IVC plethora. Cardiac MRI showed diffuse mild thickening of residual left-sided pericardium, mild diffuse circumferential pericardial enhancement, mild diastolic septal bounce, diastolic restraint, exaggerated inspiratory flattening and conical deformity of the ventricles without evidence of myocardial inflammation or scarring. Right heart catheterization showed near equalization of RV and LV pressures, RV and LV respiratory concordance, aortic pulsus paradoxus with an inspiratory decrease of 15 mmHg, and Kussmaul’s sign with an inspiratory increase in RA pressure of 68 mmHg. Left heart catheterization showed normal coronaries. The patient was diagnosed with CP and underwent repeat pericardiectomy and was treated with NSAIDs and diuretics. On follow-up, patient had symptomatic improvement but still had evidence of residual constriction on echocardiogram. Discussion: Pericardiectomy is the definitive treatment for CP, however it carries high morbidity and mortality rates. Recurrence of constrictive pericarditis requiring repeat pericardiectomy is very rare and risk factors for recurrence are not well-defined. His initial pericardiectomy was complicated with evidence of active visceral epicarditis with epicardial constriction. This case suggests that active inflammation at the time of pericardiectomy is a potential risk factor for recurrent CP requiring repeat pericardiectomy, and surgery should be deferred until the active inflammation has subsided.