Postpericardiotomy syndrome after thymothymectomy: report of two cases.

Two cases of postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) after thymothymectomy associated with pericardiotomy are described. The incidence of PPS in cardiac operations is reportedly 10-30%. Although no reports have been described in the English literature, our retrospective analysis revealed similar incidents following mediastinal tumor operation associated with pericardiotomy in cardiac surgery. Clinicians should thus be aware of this syndrome.