INVALIDISM DUE TO RECURRENT IDIOPATHIC PERICARDITIS WITH RECOVERY AFTER PERICARDIECTOMY

Abstract

Experience with eight cases of recurrent idiopathic pericarditis has led to the conviction that it can cause a form of invalidism quite different from that usually seen in chronic pericardial constriction or tamponade. Two of the eight cases are described in detail to illustrate the recurrent chest pain, fever, malaise, and resulting severe disability. Various forms of medical treatment did not relieve the symptoms. In all cases as much as possible of the diseased pericardium was removed through a sternum-splitting incision, symptoms were relieved, and the patients returned to work.