Echocardiography Diagnosis of Partial Pericardial Constriction of the Left Ventricle

In a patient with hemodynamic findings typical of severe, generalized pericardial constriction, echocardiography demonstrated partial constriction of the left ventricle; the patient had partial pericardiectomy 17 years earlier. Diagnosis was confirmed by angiocardiography and at surgery. Echocardiography suggested penetration of the myocardium at places by pericardial calcification; this finding was confirmed at surgery.