Congenital Pericardial Defect

Congenital pericardial defects

“…The electrocardiogram usually shows marked right axis deviation and the pattern of right bundle-branch block. These signs suggest the diagnosis of atrial septal defect, which is not uncommonly present in association with complete absence of the left pericardium (as in case 1 in this paper and the patients reported by Fisher and Ehrenhaft (1964) and Tabakin et al (1965)). This should always be excluded by cardiac catheterization.…”

“…These include secundum atrial septal defect (Fisher and Ehrenhaft, 1964), sinus venosus defect with partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (case 1 in this paper ;Tabakin et al, 1965), extralobar pulmonary sequestration (Hamilton, 1961), and diaphragmatic hernia (Ladd, 1936).…”

“…The cause of this pain is not known; but the most probable cause is kinking of the great vessels. Sometimes the pain is associated with a feeling of faintness (Fisher and Ehrenhaft, 1964). Sinus bradycardia is sometimes present.…”

A Case of Partial Congenital Pericardial Defect Presenting as Acute Coronary Syndrome

“…However some patients experience syncope, arrhythmia, and chest pain. The most prevalent symptom is angina-like chest pain that can also appear after postural changes 3)4). The exact mechanism of the chest pain is unclear.…”

“…The exact mechanism of the chest pain is unclear. Fisher and Ehrenhaft3) suggested possible etiologies as 1) strangulation of the fibrous pericardial rim on the coronary arteries causing myocardial ischemia; 2) torsion or strain of the great vessels; 3) lack of a cushioning effect of the pericardium, allowing the heart to pound freely on the overlying lung or chest; and 4) tension in the pleuropericardial adhesions that form in the absence of the parietal pleuropericardium 5)…”