[Constrictive pericarditis: the story of a constrained heart].

Background: Symptoms of constrictive pericarditis may be nonspecific, misleading and may delay or lead to an incorrect diagnosis.

Clinical Case: We present the case of a 28-year-old male who was admitted to the hospital with progressive dyspnea, thoracic pain and a history of 25 kg of weight gain during the last 2 years. He was evaluated at another facility and his clinical presentation led to an erroneous diagnosis of primary hepatic disease (cirrhosis and portal hypertension).

[Cerebral Blood flow velocity spectrum by transcranial doppler ultrasound in patients with brain death clinical criteria].

Objective: To evaluate cerebral blood flow (CBF) direction, speed, and shape of Doppler profile in patients with clinical criteria of brain death (BD).

Patients: A total of 42 consecutive patients with clinical criteria for BD were included.

Measurements And Interventions: After anemia, hypothermia and hypocapnia were ruled out; confirmatory electroencephalogram (EEG) and a complete transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCDU) profile of circle of Willis and basilar arteries were done in all patients.