Watanabe S, Kariatsumari K, Shimamoto Y, Shimokawa S, Taira A, Tanaka A
Second Department of Surgery, Kagoshima University, Faculty of Medicine, Japan.
Kyobu Geka. 1996 Oct;49(11):939-42.
With the advent and the introduction of effective antimicrobial therapy, the mortality for tuberculosis pericarditis decreased in number dramatically. The problems, however, remains in several severe cases. We have experienced a rare case of 74 year old male with subacute effusive-constrictive pericarditis accompanied with miliary tuberculosis. The patient revealed improvement immediately after early an emergent pericardiectomy. However cardiac failure recurred thereafter because of fibrous epicarditis of tuberculous inflammation. Management of subacute effusive-constrictive pericarditis as this has many problems including surgical intervention such as operative timing and indication and/or role of corticosteroids together with antituberculotic drugs.