Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic demonstration of reduction in fibrin content in purulent pericarditis following intrapericardial fibrinolytic agent administration

Abstract

We describe an adult patient who presented with purulent pericarditis (PP) in whom two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a marked decrease in the area of the right ventricular (RV) wall together with the overlying fibrin following intrapericardial administration of a fibrinolytic agent. Documentation of this decrease by measurements performed and illustrated on two-dimensional images has not been reported previously in an adult patient with PP, to the best of our knowledge.

Keywords: constrictive pericarditis; fibrin; fibrinolytic agent; intrapericardial; pericarditis; purulent pericarditis; two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography.