Hemodynamics in Pericardial and Myocardial Diseases

Abstract

Pericarditis can be followed by cardiac tamponade and/or constrictive disease. The diagnosis of tamponade is clinical and is due to the inability of the heart to fill adequately because of a positive intrapericardial pressure. In constrictive disease, there are elevated and equilibrated (<5 mmHg difference) diastolic pressures of the ventricles, whereas there is a systolic dissociation between the right ventricle and left ventricle. Distinguishing between constrictive disease and restrictive cardiomyopathy is sometimes difficult. Myocardial diseases require a catheter study to assess suitability for heart transplantation, especially in those cases with elevated pulmonary pressure.