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All About Dressler's Syndrome - Ken's Complication

By Adam Pick on September 5, 2008

I just received an email from Ken - a fellow patient who had aortic valve replacement surgery earlier this year. Like many heart surgery patients, Ken experienced a complication after heart surgery. Specifically, Ken had an issue with Dressler's Syndrome. If you are unfamiliar with Dressler's Syndrome, I have provided some information below from the Mayo Clinic:

Dressler's syndrome is a complication that can occur following a heart attack or heart surgery. It occurs when the sac that surrounds your heart (pericardium) becomes inflamed. An immune system reaction is thought to be responsible for Dressler's syndrome, which can develop several days or weeks after heart injury.

Dressler's syndrome causes fever and chest pain, which can feel like a heart attack. Also referred to as postpericardiotomy and postmyocardial infarction syndrome, Dressler's syndrome is easily treated with medications that reduce inflammation.

Dressler's Syndrome (Diagram)

With recent improvements in the medical treatment of heart attack, Dressler's syndrome is far less common than it used to be. However, once you've had the condition, it's likely to recur, so it's important to be on the lookout for any symptoms of Dressler's syndrome if you've had a heart attack, heart surgery or other heart injury.

Your doctor can diagnose Dressler's syndrome from the classic signs and symptoms, listening to your heart and sometimes using blood tests. Other diagnostic tests may also include an echocardiogram or EKG.

Complications of Dressler's syndrome are cardiac tamponade, constrictive pericarditis, pleurisy and pleural effusion.

Mild cases of Dressler's syndrome may get better on their own without treatment. Your doctor may recommend bed rest until you're feeling better. More severe cases require medications to reduce the inflammation around your heart. Sometimes hospitalization is necessary.

I hope this helps you learn more about the post-operative complication known as Dressler's Syndrome.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

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Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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