What is chronic constrictive pericarditis?

• This disorder results when the healing of an acute fibrinous or serofibrinous pericarditis or the resorption of a chronic pericardial effusion is followed by obliteration of the pericardial cavity with the formation of granulation tissue. • The latter gradually contracts and forms a firm scar encasing the heart, which may be calcified • The basic physiologic abnormality in patients with chronic con strictive pericarditis is the inability of the ventricles to fill because of the limitations imposed by the rigid, thickened pericardium