All issues > Volume 43(9); 2000

Case Report

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2000;43(9):1279-1284. Published online September 15, 2000.

A Case of Constrictive Pericarditis with Purulent Effusion in an Infant

Kyoung Hee KH Kim¹, Yoon Ki YK Kang¹, Min Ho MH Kim², Chan Uhng CU Joo¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Chonju, Korea
²Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Chonju, Korea

Abstract

Constrictive pericarditis is a rare disease of infancy and childhood, and is almost always caused by a tuberculosis or other infection. It is usually fatal, if untreated in acute phase. Early diagnosis of this condition is now facilitated by echocardiography and computerized tomography. Favorable outcome seems to depend on early diagnosis assured by echocardiography, early surgical treatment such as pericardiocentesis or pericardiectomy, and appropriate antibiotic treatment according to culture and sensitivity test. We report a case of constrictive pericarditis with severe purulent effusion in a 11-month-old female who presented with fever, irritability and hepatomegaly, and was treated with pericardiectomy and antibiotics.

Keywords :Constrictive pericarditis, Pericardiectomy