Constrictive pericarditis after bypass leading to internal mammary graft failure

Constrictive pericarditis is an infrequent consequence of cardiac operation. The etiology remains unknown, but the consequences include a restrictive process that leads to congestive failure and diminished cardiac output. In addition, the desmoplastic reaction, associated with fusion of the visceral and parietal pericardial layers, has been implicated in failure of saphenous vein grafts. We report a case of constrictive pericarditis, after coronary bypass operation, with occlusion of an internal mammary graft.