US National Trends in the Management and Outcomes of Constrictive Pericarditis: 2005-2014

Key Articles and Guidelines in the Management of Pericardial Syndromes

Over the past two decades, emerging literature has shaped the management of pericardial syndromes and has evolved abundantly towards the creation of European guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pericardial diseases. However, since the publication of the European guidelines in 2015, more data surrounding the management of pericardial syndromes have been published. Comprehensive reference materials with the most updated literature are warranted and can be pivotal in helping pharmacists make evidence-based and clinical decisions for patients diagnosed with pericardial syndromes. This compilation of key articles and guidelines will serve as a resource for pharmacists who are responsible for the care of patients with pericardial syndromes.

Impact of Center Procedural Volume on Mortality and Readmission Rates Following Pericardiectomy in the United States

Our study aimed to explore the national trends in the rates of perioperative complications, in-hospital mortality, and readmissions after pericardiectomy and the impact of center volume on these outcomes. Using the Nationwide Readmission Database, we identified patients who underwent isolated pericardiectomy from 2010 to 2019. In-hospital mortality and readmission rates were assessed using orthogonal polynomial contrasts, with the linear and nonlinear trends evaluated as needed. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to identify the independent predictors of mortality and readmission. All analyses accounted for the Nationwide Readmission Database sampling design and were performed using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc. Cary, NC.) with p <0.05 used to indicate statistical significance. A total of 26,169 hospitalizations for pericardiectomy were identified during the study period. The median age was 59 years and 44% were female. In-hospital mortality was 5.2%, and the median length of stay was 7 days. Advanced age, higher co-morbidity index, and lower annual facility pericardiectomy volume were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. The 30- and 90-day readmission rates after pericardiectomy were 18% and 28%, respectively. Previous cardiac surgery, diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis, and greater co-morbidity score were independent predictors of readmission. In conclusion, isolated pericardiectomy rates have remained mostly constant, with relatively small changes in in-hospital mortality and 30- and 90-day readmission rates over the last decade. Advanced age, lower facility pericardiectomy volume, and higher Elixhauser co-morbidity index are independent predictors of surgical mortality.

Updates on the Global Prevalence and Etiology of Constrictive Pericarditis: A Systematic Review

Constrictive pericarditis is a rare disease with poorly understood epidemiology. A systematic literature search was adopted to assess the region- and period-specific traits of constrictive pericarditis through Pubmed, EMBASE, and Scopus. Case reports and studies including less than 20 patients were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed through the Study Quality Assessment Tools developed by the National Heart Lung Blood Institute by 4 reviewers. Patient demographics, disease etiology, and mortality were the primary assessed outcomes. One hundred thirty studies with 11,325 patients have been included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The age at diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis has markedly increased after 1990. Patients from Africa and Asia are considerably younger compared with those from Europe and North America. Moreover, there are differences in etiology, as tuberculosis remains the dominant cause of constrictive pericarditis in Africa and Asia but has been surpassed by history of previous chest surgery in North America and Europe. The human immunodeficiency virus affects 29.1% of patients from Africa diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis, a feature that is not observed on any other continent. The early mortality rate after hospitalization has improved. The variances of age at diagnosis and etiology of constrictive pericarditis should be considered by the clinician during the work-up of cardiac and pericardial diseases. An underlying human immunodeficiency virus infection complicates a significant portion of constrictive pericarditis cases in Africa. Early mortality has improved across the world but remains high.

Pericardiectomy and Pericardial Window for the Treatment of Pericardial Disease in the Contemporary Era

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize the contemporary practice of pericardiectomy and pericardial window. We discuss the indications, preoperative planning, procedural aspects, postprocedural management, and outcomes of each procedure.

RECENT FINDINGS

Surgical approaches for the treatment of pericardial disease have been around even before the emergence of cardiopulmonary bypass. Since the forthcoming of cardiopulmonary bypass, there have been significant changes in the epidemiology and diagnostic approach of pericardial diseases as well as advancements in the surgical techniques and perioperative management used in the care of these patients. Pericardiectomy has an average mortality of almost 7% and is typically performed in patients with advanced symptoms from constrictive pericarditis and relatively few comorbidities. Pericardial window is a safe procedure for the treatment of pericardial effusion that can be performed with different approaches.

A case report of pericardial constriction with coexisting severe left main coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is a rare condition in which the pericardium becomes progressively fibrotic and non-compliant leading to impaired ventricular filling and overt heart failure. While CP shares many clinical and haemodynamic similarities with restrictive cardiomyopathy, differentiation of these diseases is crucial as CP is potentially curative through pericardiectomy. Here, we present a case of proven pericardial constriction with atypical haemodynamics in a patient presenting with heart failure and severe left main coronary artery disease (CAD).

CASE SUMMARY

A 69-year-old female with a history of hypertension and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation presented with persistent heart failure refractory to diuretics. Ischaemic and infiltrative work-up were found to be negative with magnetic resonance imaging demonstrating trace pericardial fluid and thickening of the pericardium. Echocardiogram and right-heart catheterization demonstrated atypical haemodynamics suggestive of but not conclusive for CP, with coronary angiogram demonstrating severe left main CAD. Ultimately, the patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting along with pericardiectomy and pericardial biopsy demonstrating constrictive physiology.

DISCUSSION

We suspect the inconclusive nature of the echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization was likely secondary to severe CAD impairing left ventricular relaxation and dampening ventricular interdependence. As such, clinicians should consider the possibility of coexistent severe CAD in patients with a clinical suspicion of CP, but inconclusive haemodynamics.

The Clinical Efficacy of Cedilanid and Isosorbide Dinitrate plus Pericardial Dissection for Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis in the Elderly and Its Influence on Plasma Endothelin, Atrial Natriuretic Peptide, and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index

Objective

To investigate the clinical efficacy of cedilanid and isosorbide dinitrate plus pericardial dissection for chronic constrictive pericarditis in the elderly.

Methods

Ninety elderly patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis admitted to our hospital from March 2018 to October 2020 were recruited and assigned to receive either cedilanid and isosorbide dinitrate (control group A), pericardial dissection (control group B), or cedilanid and isosorbide dinitrate plus pericardial dissection (combination group) via random number table method, with 30 patients in each group. Outcome measures included plasma endothelin, atrial natriuretic peptide, system immune-inflammation indices, treatment effect, quality of life, mental state, and treatment satisfaction.

Results

The combination group had significantly higher treatment satisfaction and treatment efficacy than control groups A and B (P > 0.05). The combination group showed the lowest levels of atrial natriuretic peptide and endothelin, followed by control group A, and group B (P < 0.001). The combined therapy resulted in significantly lower levels of system immunity index, lower Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) scores, and better General Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) scores than those of the control group B, followed by group A (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Cedilanid and isosorbide dinitrate plus pericardial dissection for elderly patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis enhances the level of plasma endothelin, atrial natriuretic peptide, and systemic immune-inflammation indexes of patients and improves their quality of life, which shows great potential for clinical promotion.

Fifteen-year experience with pericardiectomy at a tertiary referral center

Purpose

Pericardiectomy has traditionally carried relatively high perioperative mortality and morbidity, with few published reports of intermediate- and long- term outcomes. We investigated our 15-year experience performing pericardiectomy at our institution.

Methods

Retrospective study of all patients who underwent pericardiectomy at our institution between 2005 and 2019. Baseline demographics, intraoperative details, and postoperative outcomes including long-term survival were analyzed.

Results

Sixty-three patients were included in the study. 66.7% of subjects underwent isolated pericardiectomy while 33.3% underwent pericardiectomy concomitantly with another cardiac surgical procedure. The most common indications for pericardiectomy were constrictive (79.4%) and hemorrhagic (9.5%) pericarditis. Preoperatively, 76.2% of patients were New York Heart Association class II and III, while postoperatively, 71.4% were class I and II. One-, three-, five-, and ten- year overall mortality was 9.5, 14.3, 20.6, and 25.4%, respectively. Overall pericarditis recurrence rate was 4.8%.

Conclusion

Pericardiectomy carries relatively high overall mortality rates, which likely reflects underlying disease etiology and comorbidities. Patients with prior cardiac intervention, history of dialysis, and immunocompromised state are associated with worse outcomes.

Diagnosis and treatment of effusive-constrictive pericarditis: a case report

Background

Effusive–constrictive pericarditis (ECP) is a rare syndrome involving pericardial effusion and concomitant constrictive pericarditis. The hallmark is a persistently elevated right atrial pressure of >10 mmHg or reduction of less than 50% from baseline despite pericardiocentesis. Aetiologies include radiation, infection, malignancy, and autoimmune disease.

Case summary

A 71-year-old man with a history of atrial fibrillation, obesity, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnoea, managed with continuous positive airway pressure presented with acute pericarditis complicated by pericardial effusion leading to cardiac tamponade. He was diagnosed with ECP after pericardiocentesis and was managed surgically with a pericardial window.

Discussion

Early detected cases of ECP can be managed by medical therapy. Therapeutic interventions include pericardiocentesis, balloon pericardiostomy, and pericardiectomy. This report describes a case of new-onset congestive heart failure secondary to ECP.

Pericardiectomy for Constrictive Pericarditis: Analysis of Outcomes

Constrictive pericarditis is caused by pericardial inflammation and fibrosis, leading to diastolic heart failure. The diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion because it often can mimic restrictive myocardial disease and cardiac tamponade and can be associated with severe tricuspid regurgitation and chronic liver disease. Patients who remain undiagnosed can experience a 90% mortality rate, and for those who undergo pericardiectomy, the survival rate varies significantly, depending on the underlying etiology and preoperative functional class of the patient. In this article, the authors review the pathophysiology, echocardiographic findings, management, and surgical outcomes of constrictive pericarditis to aid the cardiothoracic anesthesiologist in the perioperative management of this disorder.

Constrictive Pericarditis: A Commonly Missed Cause of Treatable Diastolic Heart Failure

Constrictive pericarditis arises as a result of the fibrous thickening of the pericardium due to chronic inflammatory changes from various injuries. Increased pulmonary and systemic venous pressures manifest clinical features of left and right heart failure. Idiopathic or post-viral pericarditis is the most common cause followed by postpericardiotomy, radiation-induced causes. Right-sided heart failure symptoms predominate over left-sided heart failure symptoms due to the equalization of pressures. No single diagnostic test can provide a definitive diagnosis or evidence of constrictive pericarditis. Medical management is difficult for constrictive pericarditis. The treatment of choice for constrictive pericarditis is pericardiectomy.