Q. 2-Dimensional Echocardiography constrictive pericarditis?
Thickened pericardium can be detected. In about a third of patients there will be associated some degree of pericardial fluid. Sudden anterior motion of interventricular septum following atrial systole is a feature. On Doppler evaluation, respiratory variation of atrioventricular valve flow will be detected - there will be significant decrease in mitral flow and increase in tricuspid flow during inspiration. This difference can be 33 per cent and above. Opposite changes are seen during expiration. Pulmonary venous flow in CP will show decreased systolic to diastolic flow ratio. There will be significant increase in pulmonary venous flow during expiration. Similarly the venous flow pattern in inferior venacava can show decreased systolic to diastolic flow ratio and marked increase in flow during inspiration. In restrictive cardiomyopathy, the prominent respiratory variation of the venous flow does not happen.