LATE DIAGNOSIS OF PERICARDIAL CONSTRICTION ASSOCIATED WITH DEFIBRILLATOR PATCHES AND DEFORMATION OF THE LEFT-VENTRICLE

Pericardial Constriction Associated with AICD Patches. We report a cas e of pericardial constriction associated with defibrillator patches de veloping 4.5 years after implantation. This constriction was related t o the presence of a large pericardial mass that had developed-above th e defibrillator patch. This mass, which had a calcified superior borde r, suggested former hematoma associated with pericardial fibrosis, It induced significant compression of the right-ventricle and a dumb-bell deformity of the left ventricle. The hemodynamic picture was of elast ic-form constrictive pericarditis. Because of previous cerebral stroke during cardiac surgery, the patient was discharged on pharmacologic t reatment after improvement of his functional status. Since removal of epicardial patches is an effective treatment of constriction, constric tive pericarditis should be systematically considered in patients with epicardial patch electrodes and impairment of functional status.