Pericarditis/Constrictive Pericarditis

My husband has been diagnosed with pericardial constrictions due to a calcified pericardium. We are in SW FL but have been told by several cardiologist and a cardio thoracic surgeon Mayo is our answer. My husband is not yet 64 and very healthy otherwise. Our appointment is not until December 16th. His quality of life is poor right now due to low heart function. Any suggestions on how to expedite our appointment. Thanks.

Hello @bees1961 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. That is wonderful news that you have made the decision to seek care at Mayo Clinic in FL for your husband and have an appointment. I can appreciate that your husband's appointment date feels far off.

Did you ask about your options for being called if there is a cancellation?

No. i had not thought of that. I will do so tomorrow. Thank you!

I am a healthy 66 year old male recently diagnosed with Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis by the Pericardial Disease Clinic at Mayo. My cause is idiopathic (unknown). Is there anyone else who has been diagnosed and moved ahead with a pericardiectomy? I've been told that I need this surgery sooner than later due to significant calcification of my pericardium.

I am new to this forum and hope someone has some helpful information for my husband. His story - 14 years ago, at age 62, he had open heart surgery and received a new bovine valve and had 6 by-passes. He had been a very active man all his life but did not recover well from the surgery. 1 month after his initial surgery his cardiovascular surgeon decided to open his chest back up to see what was going on. He was diagnosed with Dressler's Syndrome and has had constrictive pericarditis ever since. It has been a life-altering condition but one he has been able to live with until the past year. He now suffers from extreme fluid retention in his legs, kidney stress due to the amount of diuretics he takes, shortness of breath, inability to lay down (sleeps in a recliner), fatigue, only to name a few. Within the past month he began to pass out and required a pacemaker. He had a heart cath the next day and constrictive pericarditis was his diagnosis. His cardiologist has urged him to seek a 2nd opinion and consider having his pericardium removed. My research has led me here. Has anyone had a pericardiectomy? Who is the most experienced physician in that field? Please fill us in on your experience and would you recommend the surgery? Has it improved your quality of life? Any complications? We appreciate any information you can share.

I have been dealing with what I believe is Pericarditis/Constrictive version of Pericarditis since last summer. I do have a pacemaker for A/fib and have been treated for that with diltiazem, also had Influenza A at new years and was given a diuretic at that time for fluid on the heart. I have been doctoring locally was wondering if this is a reasonable treatment plan, as the symptoms persist. I can only do a few minutes of work before I feel the chest pains then need to rest for a few minutes.

My cardiologist is recommending that I have a pericardiectomy. I read that it is rare to need surgery and may have complications. Did you have the surgery? If so, are you better since having it? I now a first having a thoracentesis.
I would appreciate any info before meeting with the surgeon.

I have not had the surgery. I did have an updated echocardiogram in January. My cardiac surgeon said that it looked good with some evidence of mild constriction. They are going to keep watching me at six-month intervals. It plan to see my Cardiologist at Mayo in August. They will probably repeat some tests from last year. My goal is to defer this "open heart" surgery until I absolutely need it.