Clotted hemopericardium with the hemodynamic characteristics of constrictive pericarditis.

Cardiac catheterization in a patient 4 weeks after coronary arterial bypass surgery demonstrated the typical hemodynamic findings of constrictive pericarditis, which completely resolved after removal of 500 ml of clotted pericardial blood. The pericardium was not responsible for the findings because it was left in place. This case demonstrates that clotted hemopericardium may mimic constrictive pericarditis.