Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.
2001 Mar;34(3):249-251.
Cadiac Herniation Following Intrapericadial Pneumonectomy: A Case Report
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, College of Medicine. Kyung Hee University, Korea.
Abstract
-
Cardiac herniation is a rare catastrophic complication of intrapericardial pneumonectomy. Untreated it is invariably fatal. Left pneumonectomy for removal of huge angiomatosis tumor in left lung was performed in a 44 year-old male patient. At the end of operation, the patient had cardiovascular collapse due to cardiac herniation. Repaired pericardial suture was teared and the heart was herniated in the left thorax. The hernated heart was edematous caused by compression and incarceration of the cardiac muscle by the edge of the pericardial rent. The heart was introduced into the pericardial sac and the defect was closed with large Goretex patch; however the patient ' s brain had sever hypoxic damage. This paper reports a case of cardiac herniation following left intrapericardial pneumonectomy.