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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2020; 68(08): 730-736
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1645869
Original Cardiovascular

Surgical Pericardiectomy for Constrictive Pericarditis: A Single Tertiary Center Experience

Eyal Nachum
1   Department of Cardiac Surgery, Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, Tel Hashomer, Israel
,
Leonid Sternik
1   Department of Cardiac Surgery, Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, Tel Hashomer, Israel
,
Yigal Kassif
1   Department of Cardiac Surgery, Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, Tel Hashomer, Israel
,
Ehud Raanani
1   Department of Cardiac Surgery, Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, Tel Hashomer, Israel
,
Ilan Hay
2   Department of Cardiology, Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, Tel Hashomer, Israel
,
Amjad Shalabi
1   Department of Cardiac Surgery, Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, Tel Hashomer, Israel
,
Jonathan Buber
2   Department of Cardiology, Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, Tel Hashomer, Israel
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Abstract

Background Although surgery is the sole therapeutic option for patients with constrictive pericarditis (CP), reports on high postoperative mortality rates have led to hesitant surgery referral. The aim of this study was to report the short- and long-term outcomes of surgical pericardiectomy (SP) from a large tertiary center.

Methods Between January 2005 and January 2017, 55 consecutive patients underwent SP after comprehensive echocardiography, computed tomography, and hemodynamic studies. Detailed clinical, imaging, surgical techniques and follow-up outcomes were recorded.

Results The most common etiology was idiopathic (n = 27, 49%) and 33 patients (60%) were in functional class 3/4. Sixteen patients (29%) underwent concomitant interventions during SP, and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was used in these, as well as in four additional cases. Complete resection, independent of CPB, was achieved in 96%. One patient died during the index hospitalization, and four (7%) needed re-explorations due to bleeding. While 12 patients (22%) died during a mean follow-up of 52 ± 39 months, only 1 death was due to right heart failure. Functional class significantly improved (with a p-value < 0.001), diuretics were discontinued in all, and significant reductions of right atrial pressures were recorded. None of these outcomes differed as a result of concomitant interventions at the time of SP.

Conclusion Short- and long-term outcomes of SP, performed either alone or concomitantly with other procedures, indicate high safety and favorable clinical and hemodynamic efficacy for the treatment of CP.

Keywords

pericardium - constrictive pericarditis - pericardiectomy


Publication History

Received: 09 December 2017

Accepted: 14 March 2018

Article published online:
27 May 2018

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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