Please be advised that this video contains graphic footage of surgery.
Constrictive pericarditis is a curable diastolic heart failure condition, but it is frequently unrecognized.
Advances in multi-modality imaging and a better understanding of constrictive hemodynamics have improved detection of constrictive pericarditis.
Once recognized, a subset of the patients can be managed medically although most constrictive patients require complete pericardiectomy. Most patients recover fully after pericardiectomy, but some patients with superimposed myocardial disease may not.