The Pericardium Questions

Pulsus paradoxus is more common in the setting of atrial fibrillation.

The most common cause of chronic constrictive pericarditis is previous cardiac surgery.

Abdominal distension is the most common symptom.

Catheterization demonstrates characteristic early rapid rise in RV diastolic pressure, followed by a rapid fall to a plateau (square-root sign).

CT scan is useful to demonstrate the thickened pericardium.

Question 2: Which of the following statements is true regarding the treatment of chronic constrictive pericarditis?

Clinical progression is more rapid once ascites has developed.

Pericardial bands at the pulmonary trunk should be left undisturbed to prevent injury.

Constrictions in the AV groove should not be excised to protect the underlying coronary artery.

Preoperative functional status is not associated with late postoperative death.

Reoperation is common due to the underlying disease process.

Question 3: Which of the following statements is true regarding chronic effusive pericarditis?

It is less common now due to improvements in the treatment of tuberculosis.

Chronic effusive pericarditis that develops during hemodialysis is quite refractory to medical therapy.

Pericardiocentesis under echo guidance is the treatment of choice for recurrence.

Pericardial window is equally effective to pericardial stripping for chronic effusive pericarditis of unknown etiology.

Infectious effusive pericarditis is most common in older men.