[Surgical treatment of 128 cases of constrictive pericarditis].

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the experience with surgical treatment of constrictive pericarditis.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the post-operative clinical data was conducted in 128 surgical patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis.

RESULTS

Two early postoperative death occurred in this group due to severe low cardiac output syndrome, with the mortality rate of 1.57%. The postoperative complications included low cardiac output syndrome (13.2%), arrhythmia (7.02%), acute renal insufficiency (3.9%), respiratory insufficiency (3.1%), wound infection (2.3%), postoperative chest bleeding (1.6%) and cerebral infarction (0.78%). Relapse occurred in one case because of incomplete pericardial resection.

CONCLUSIONS

Constrictive pericarditis should be confirmed as soon as possible with actively surgery, and the extent of pericardial resection should be decided according to the individual conditions. Complete untethering of the diseased pericardium should be performed with active prevention of postoperative complications.