Jain CC, Miranda WR, El Sabbagh A, et al. - A simple, feasible, and accurate parameter for the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis (CP) is afforded by pulmonary artery (PA) and aorta (Ao) measurements of ejection times (ETs) throughout the respiratory cycle.

• This study included 10 patients with surgically proven CP and 10 patients without CP (restrictive cardiomyopathy or severe tricuspid regurgitation).

• Retrospective analysis of simultaneous left-side and right-side heart catheterizations was conducted.

• A significantly greater reduction in PA ET and a nonsignificantly greater increase in Ao ET during expiration vs inspiration was seen in patients with CP than those without CP.

• Hence, significantly greater difference in Ao ET minus the difference in PA ET during expiration vs inspiration was seen in patients with CP vs those without CP (mean [SD], 50.8 [22.5] milliseconds vs 5.4 [15.2] milliseconds).