Blunt trauma as a suspected cause of delayed constrictive pericarditis: a case report.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Constrictive pericarditis is a heterogeneous disease with many causes. Traumatic hemopericardium is an uncommon initiating cause. We report the case of a man developing constrictive pericarditis after blunt chest trauma, in order to highlight an approach to diagnosing the condition and to raise awareness of the possibility of this condition developing after blunt trauma.

Case presentation

A 72-year-old Caucasian man presented initially to our outpatient clinic with a one-year history of progressively worsening dyspnea, and recent onset of edema of the legs. He was later taken to the emergency department and admitted to hospital. He had previously received unsuccessful treatment from his local primary physicians for suspected respiratory disorder and cellulitis o

SUBMITTER: Anderson EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3058085 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature