Pericardial constriction after open-heart surgery

A case of pericardial constriction developing after open-heart surgery is described. As far as we are aware, this is the first such case to be reported in the West Indian medical literature. Possible aetiological influences are discussed, important differences from the clinical features of idiopathic constrictive pericarditis are stressed, and the great importance of considering this diagnosis in any post-operative cardiac surgical patient who develops apparent heart failure is emphasized (AU)