Constrictive Pericarditis: Serial Hemodynamic Studies with an Explanation for Reversible Congestive Phenomena

Abstract
A new explanation for certain instances of acute reversible congestive phenomena in constrictive pericarditis is offered on the basis of 6 patients studied clinically and by right heart catheterization. In 2 cases intermittent tamponade in the presence of a rigid pericardium accounted for the reversibility of the congestive state, as contrasted with 4 cases presenting the chronic progressive course of classical constrictive pericarditis. The diagnosis in the 6 cases was proved by surgery or autopsy.