Diagnosis and treatment of effusive–constrictive pericarditis: a case report

Background Effusive-constrictive pericarditis (ECP) is a rare syndrome involving pericardial effusion and concomitant constrictive pericarditis. The hallmark is a persistently elevated right atrial pressure of >10 mmHg or reduction of less than 50% from baseline despite pericardiocentesis. Aetiologies include radiation, infection, malignancy, and autoimmune disease. Case summary A 71-year-old man with a history of atrial fibrillation, obesity, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnoea, managed with continuous positive airway pressure presented with acute pericarditis complicated by pericardial effusion leading to cardiac tamponade. He was diagnosed with ECP after pericardiocentesis and was managed surgically with a pericardial window. Discussion Early detected cases of ECP can be managed by medical therapy. Therapeutic interventions include pericardiocentesis, balloon pericardiostomy, and pericardiectomy. This report describes a case of new-onset congestive heart failure secondary to ECP.