Restoration of normal intracardiac pressures after extensive pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis.

CHRONIC constrictive pericarditis produces a characteristic clinical picture' that results from a characteristic eirculatorv alteration, namely, restriction of ventricular filling. Pericardial constriction is accompanied by typical abnormalities of right atrial and right ventricular pressure-pulse contours,2 and although the majority of patients are improved clinically after pericardiectomy, some authors2' 3 have indicated that the abuormal pressures persist postoperatively. The observation of normal right ventricular and atrial pressure tracings in four patients following pericardiectomy has led us to review cases subjected to operation in two general hospitals. This paper presents the clinieal features and preoperative and postoperative catheterizationi findings in patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis who have undergone perieardial resectionsince Dee.ember 1955, under the supervision of oiie