Tuberculous pericardial effusion after coronary artery bypass graft.

Abstract

We describe a case of a recurrent pericardial effusion after coronary artery bypass grafting. This was initially considered to be due to post-pericardiotomy syndrome, but was later treated empirically as tuberculosis. After definitive surgery for this condition, pericardial histology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of tubercular pericarditis. At 4-months follow-up, while continuing anti-tuberculous therapy and corticosteroids, the patient showed consistent improvement without further recurrence of his pericardial effusion. Local reactivation of tuberculosis after pericardiotomy has not been previously reported and merits careful consideration in population groups in which tuberculosis is highly endemic.

• Authors: Sampurna M Tuladhar, Mahdad Noursadeghi, Joseph J Boyle, Jon S Friedland, Philip Hornick
• Journal: The Annals of thoracic surgery (Ann Thorac Surg) Vol. 82 Issue 4 Pg. 1519-21 (Oct 2006) ISSN: 1552-6259 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 16996972 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antitubercular Agents
• Glucocorticoids

Topics

• Antitubercular Agents (therapeutic use)
• Coronary Artery Bypass (adverse effects)
• Drainage
• Glucocorticoids (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Myocardial Ischemia (surgery)
• Pericardial Effusion (microbiology, therapy)
• Pericardial Window Techniques
• Pericardium (microbiology, pathology)
• Recurrence
• Tuberculosis, Cardiovascular (etiology, therapy)