Localized constrictive pericarditis after Gore-Tex pericardial substitution.

A 65-year-old patient presented with recurrent cardiac decompensation 12 years after aortic prosthesis replacement and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane pericardial substitution. Diagnosis of pericardial constriction was difficult. Only one cardiac imaging method, radionuclide ventriculography, was helpful. Upon re-operation, an epicardial fibrous strap which restricted right ventricle (RV) diastolic expansion was found between the anterior free wall and diaphragmatic portion of the RV. Clinical status dramatically improved after surgical removal of this bridle, as did ventricular filling curves in radionuclide imaging. This case shows that delayed cardiac constriction is possible after ePTFE pericardial substitution, especially if the membrane is applied to both anterior and diaphragmatic aspects of the heart.