Unmasking of severe mitral regurgitation after pericardiectomy.

Mitral valve prolapse in the young is the most common cause of mitral regurgitation (MR). Constrictive pericarditis (CP) is a chronic and end-stage manifestation of the inflammatory process of the pericardium. Apart from equalization of diastolic pressure of the chambers as well as increased ventricular interdependence, the thickened pericardial sheath in end-stage pericarditis fails to accommodate the intrathoracic venous return due to restricted cardiac chamber filling. Intracardiac valvular pathologies might co-exist in CP. This report presents a case in which effusive CP was associated with MR and highlights the pivotal role of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the decision-making of such co-existent lesions.