Hemodynamics of large ventricular septal defect and coexisting chronic constrictive pericarditis masquerading as Eisenmenger's syndrome

The presence of right to left shunting due to elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in a patient with large ventricular septal defect (VSD) is conventionally considered as Eisenmenger's syndrome. The recognition of reversible causes of elevated PVR is important. We report hemodynamics of a child in whom unusual coexistence of large VSD and chronic constrictive pericarditis (CCP) mimicked Eisenmeneger's syndrome. The strategy of stepwise hemodynamic evaluation led to good clinical outcome.© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.