Scarring of the pericardium after one or more episodes of pericarditis. This limits normal cardiac filling during diastole. Impaired filling of the heart chambers reduces the volume of blood ejected by the heart with each contraction. The patient often complains of shortness of breath. On physical examination, elevated neck veins, ascites, hepatic enlargement, and lower extremity edema often are found. Surgical stripping of the pericardium (pericardiectomy) is used to relieve the constriction.