Pericardial waffle for effusive-constrictive pericarditis

Abstract

We present the case of a 55-year-old female marathon runner who presented with progressive exercise intolerance and was diagnosed with effusive-constrictive pericarditis. Stereotypical findings of this challenging diagnosis are shown by transthoracic echocardiographic and right heart catheterization. We treated the patient with a parietal pericardiectomy and pericardial waffle procedure to relieve a thick and constrictive epicardium.

Keywords: Constrictive pericarditis; Pericardial effusion; Pericardial waffle; Pericardiectomy.