Postoperative Pericardial Calcification Causing Diastolic Coronary Compression

Diastolic compression of the coronary arteries is a rare and likely acquired finding. Previous reports hypothesized that the artery becomes compressed against epicardial and pericardial scarring during ventricular filling, which leads to reduced coronary blood flow and clinical ischemia. We present two cases of isolated diastolic coronary artery compression resulting from contact against postoperative pericardial reflections that became calcified during the course of 10 to 20 years.