TIME TO STRIP THE HEART? OPPORTUNE TIMING OF PERICARDIECTOMY IN TREATMENT OF IDIOPATHIC CONSTRICTIVE PERICARDITIS

Idiopathic constrictive pericarditis is a chronic inflammatory process ultimately leading to low cardiac output and advanced heart failure if untreated. The only definitive treatment is complete pericardiectomy; a long, technically complex and dangerous procedure. Timing of surgery is important as