Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2010 Apr;43(2):184-187.

Pericardiectomy by a Left Limited Anterolateral Thoracotomy for Constrictive Pericarditis after Cardiac Surgery: 2 case reports

• Kim TY
• Choi JB
• Lee MK
• Kim KH
• Kim MH

Abstract

Although it is a rare complication of cardiac surgery, constrictive pericarditis still remains a difficult problem that needs an appropriate treatment after cardiac surgery. We had two patients with constrictive pericarditis presenting with unexplained right heart failure early after cardiac surgery, and the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis was made by a specific finding of septal bounce shown in echocardiographic study. On the postoperative 40th day and 31st day, they underwent pericardiectomy by a left limited anterolateral thoracotomy. For one to two weeks since pericardiectomy, the cardiac failure symptoms were gradually relieved. For patients without improvement of the constrictive symptom and sign even with conservative medical therapy for constrictive pericarditis developed early after cardiac surgery, pericardiectomy by a left limited anterolateral thoracotomy is considered as a useful therapeutic mode.

Keyword

Pericarditis, constrictive; Postoperative complications; Pericardiectomy

MeSH Terms

Heart Failure
Humans
Pericardiectomy
Pericarditis, Constrictive
Postoperative Complications
Thoracic Surgery
Thoracotomy