Mechanical and Myocardial Factors in Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis

Abstract

The hemodynamic findings in five patients are presented in order to demonstrate the variability in the clinical and physiologic patterns that may be encountered in restrictive disease of the pericardium. The mechanical effects of pericardial encasement previously described were confirmed. Furthermore, it was found that myocardial insufficiency and hypervolemia were not only important causative agents in the circulatory dysfunction but were in some measure reversible, thus permitting resolution of the congestive state and disappearance of the "typical" hemodynamic findings of constrictive pericarditis.