Open AccessBoxer's pericardium
Author(s) -
Adrian Ooi,
A C Douds,
E B Kumar,
Samer A.M. Nashef
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
european journal of cardio-thoracic surgery
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.303
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1873-734X
pISSN - 1010-7940
DOI - 10.1016/s1010-7940(03)00579-7
Subject(s) - pericardium , medicine , constriction , chylous ascites , chylothorax , fibrosis , surgery , peripheral edema , ascites , adverse effect
A 65-year-old retired professional boxer presented with progressively worsening shortness of breath, peripheral oedema and mild abdominal swelling over a period of 6 months. His only past medical history was hypertension. Subsequent investigations revealed chylous ascites, pericardial constriction and bilateral chylothorax. He had uneventful pericardectomy, and post-operatively the chylothorax resolved only after administration of octreotide for 10 days. The histopathological features of fibrosis, haemosiderin deposition in the pericardium and abundant haemosiderin-laden macrophages are consistent with chronic resolving haemopericardium. These findings suggested that the cause of pericardial constriction was repeated chest trauma from boxing.