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Reversible left ventricular dysfunction simulating a myocardial infarction after pericardiectomy
  1. D E Wood1,
  2. A J Crumbley2,
  3. N L Pereira1
  1. 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
  2. 2Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, USA
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr N L Pereira, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Suite 816, PO Box 250625, Charleston, SC 29425–5799 USA;
    pereiran{at}musc.edu

Abstract

A 39 year old man with postoperative constrictive pericarditis after pericardiectomy developed major left ventricular systolic dysfunction with an anterior wall infarct pattern on ECG but no regional wall motion abnormalities by echocardiography or serum enzymatic evidence of a myocardial infarction. The left ventricular dysfunction resolved over two weeks with supportive treatment. It is postulated that this patient's transient left ventricular dysfunction and ECG changes were caused by myocardial inflammation and oedema induced by operative trauma during pericardiectomy.

  • electrocardiogram
  • acute myocardial infarction
  • pericardiectomy
  • congestive heart failure

https://doi.org/10.1136/heart.88.2.183

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