Constrictive Pericarditis:
A condition in which the pericardium, the fibrous sac that envelops the heart, becomes excessively thick and constricts the heart. This constriction prevents the heart from adequately filling, which leads to inadequate and poor heart function. (See Pericardium, Pericarditis). If the constriction is significant, surgery is performed to remove the thickened pericardium and release the constriction of the heart. This operation is known as a pericardiectomy.
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