Chronic constrictive pericarditis treated with total pericardiectomy.

The early and late results of total pericardiectomy performed during a 30-year period in 34 patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis are presented. The overall hospital mortality was 8.8%. The cumulative 5-, 10-, and 30-year survival rates were 79%, 65% and 53%, respectively. Preoperatively, 94% of the patients were classified in functional class III or IV (NYHA classification). After 3 months' follow-up, 94% of the surviving patients were in functional class I or II. After an average 14.2 year follow-up period, 94% of the surviving patients were in functional class I, and of these 72% were in fulltime jobs. It is concluded that the tendency towards early surgery should be encouraged, especially because the chronic state is accompanied by deleterious effects.