We study on 3 children pyopericarditis on July 1996 at the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department Cho Ray Hospital. All of patients come from Pediatric Hospital. Diagnostic: pyopericarditis with pus from pericardiocentesis. Operation: largely pericardiectomy. Result: all patients are in good condition when they are discharge.
Myocarditis ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pericardiectomy ; surgery ; therapeutics ; child

A clinical study was done on 16 cases of constrictive pericarditis admitted to National Medical Center, from january, 1970 to October, 1982, were reviewed, conclusion as follows: 1) The patients with constrictive pericarditis generally revealed clinical features of right heart failure but low incidence of its characteristic features. 2) Hemodynamic and echocardiographic examinations were much helpful in confirmation of clinical diagnosis. 3) pericardiectomy was highly succesful in achievement of clinical improvement.
Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Heart Failure ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pericardiectomy ; Pericarditis, Constrictive*

Harmonic Scalpel(Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH) has many advantages including no muscular stimulation, low heat, less smoke, easy hemostasis using ultrasound and good operation field. In patient with constrictive pericarditis, Harmonic Scalpel was beneficial during pericardiectomy.
Hemostasis ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Pericardiectomy* ; Pericarditis, Constrictive ; Smoke ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo observe the hemodynamic changes in patients undergoing pericardiectomy at different operational stages.

METHODSTotally 16 consecutive patients receiving radical pericardiectomy were enrolled in this observational study. Hemodynamic variables were monitored continuously by pulse-indicated continuous cardiac output(PiCCO)system. Totally,three sets of intraoperative hemodynamic parameters were obtained at three different stages of pericardiectomy.

RESULTSDuring the pericardiectomy,the cardiac index[CI,(1.9±0.6),(2.7±0.6),(3.0±0.5)L·min(-1)·m(-2);P<0.05]and stroke volume index[SI,(22.5±8.7),(29.9±8.5),(30.1±8.5)dyn·s·cm(-5)·m(2);P<0.05]showed significant improvement,whereas central venous pressure[CVP,(17.1±5.0),(13.3±3.9),(12.3±3.0)mmHg;P<0.05]decreased significantly. Global end-diastolic volume index[GEDVi,(533±156),(580±153),(559±144)ml·m(-2);P<0.05]increased and stroke volume variation[SVV,(15.6±6.1)%,(10.8±4.2)%,(9.4±5.4)%;P<0.05]decreased intra-operatively. The majority of the above-mentioned hemodynamic improvements occurred after the resection of pericardium over the left ventricular outflow tract(LVOT).

CONCLUSIONSPiCCO system can serve as a reliable,less invasive hemodynamic monitoring method during pericardiectomy. Resection of the pericardium over the LVOT is the most important step of the pericardiectomy.

Cardiac Output ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Pericardiectomy ; Stroke Volume

Cardiac mesotheliomas are rare. It is difficult to diagnose them at an early stage because the symptoms are nonspecific. Here we report two cases that had been initially diagnosed as constrictive pericarditis but later were definitively diagnosed, after pericardiectomy, as mesothelioma. The two patients complained of dyspnea that lasted 4 months and 10 years. Chest CT showed mild pericardial effusion and thickened pericardium, which was found enveloping the heart without any lumps. Median sternotomy showed that the overall pericardium was thickened by more than 10 mm. Pericardiectomy (phrenic nerve to phrenic nerve) was performed and post-operative histology confirmed malignant mesothelioma. In one patient the disease recurred near the pericardium post-operatively at 7 months and the patient died at 11 months. The other patient received chemotherapy and was still alive at post-operative month 16. Pericardial mesothelioma is an extremely rare disease exhibiting clinical signs similar to those of constrictive pericarditis, and should be diagnosed at an early stage of onset.
Dyspnea ; Heart ; Humans ; Mesothelioma ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiectomy ; Pericarditis, Constrictive ; Pericardium ; Rare Diseases ; Sternotomy ; Thorax

Desmoid tumors are benign neoplasms with high rates of recurrence. A case of huge desmoid tumor of the intrathoracic and intraabdominal space is presented. The patient was treated with resection, which involved hepatic left lobectomy and diaphragmatic resection and partial pericardiectomy and wedge resection of left lower lobe of lung. The resulting defect over the pericarium and diaphragm was reconstructed by bovine pericardium and Marlex mesh. Prevention of presumed local recurrence of desmoid tumors requires wide excision margin.
Diaphragm ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive* ; Humans ; Lung ; Pericardiectomy ; Pericardium ; Polypropylenes ; Recurrence ; Thoracic Neoplasms

A 68-year-old man with constrictive pericarditis underwent pericardiectomy. The pericardium was dissected with a Harmonic Scalpel (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH). The harmonic scalpel differs from electrocautery in that there is only a minimal transfer of energy and no transfer of electrical energy to the tissues. A significant decrease in intraoperative and possibly even postoperative heart rhythm disorders is to be expected, as there is no conduction of electricity. This new device has many advantages including no muscular stimulation, low heat, a smokeless field and easy hemostasis. We exprienced a patient who underwent pericardiectomy using the Harmonic scalpel, so we report this case with a brief literature.
Aged ; Electricity ; Electrocoagulation ; Heart ; Hemostasis ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Lobeline ; Pericardiectomy* ; Pericarditis, Constrictive* ; Pericardium

BACKGROUNDTo determine the influence of right ventricular function in patients with constrictive pericarditis (CP) undergoing surgery and to compare the outcomes of patients who received surgery with those managed medically.

METHODSPatients with the diagnosis of CP and healthy volunteers were recruited from January 2006 to November 2011. Patients with CP chose to either receive pericardiectomy or medical management. Echocardiographic measurements were performed to evaluate heart function, and survival was recorded.

RESULTSA total of 58 patients with CP (36 received pericardiectomy, 22 managed medically), and 43 healthy volunteers were included. CP patients who received surgery had a higher survival rate than those managed medically (P = 0.003), and higher survival was also seen in the subgroup of CP patients with severely impaired right systolic function. Albumin level, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, and tricuspid regurgitation velocity were associated with survival in CP patients who received surgery.

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative right heart function does not affect surgical outcomes. Patients with severely impaired preoperative right systolic function obtain a greater survival advantage with surgery than with medical treatment.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pericardiectomy ; methods ; Pericarditis, Constrictive ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Function, Right

We report a case of circulatory collapse and cardiac arrest immediately after the patient was turned from the lateral decubitus position to the supine position following left pneumonectomy. Closed-chest resuscitation with medical and fluid interventions were inadequate. Emergency chest showed the deviation of heart to the left side and blunted apex. Left ventricular rupture during resuscitation was found subsequent thoracotomy. This rupture and inadequacy of closed-chest resuscitation were felt to be associated with the operative pneumonectomy and pericardiotomy.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Emergencies ; Heart ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Pericardiectomy ; Pneumonectomy* ; Resuscitation ; Rupture* ; Shock ; Supine Position ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax

Constrictive pericarditis represents a rare cause of protein-losing enteropathy in children. Reported is an 11-year-old girl with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) as the principal manifestations of constrictive pericarditis. After total pericardiectomy, symptoms and signs of PLE disappeared. Doppler echocardiography including tissue Doppler imaging is a useful noninvasive initial diagnostic tool for differential diagnosis of diastolic heart failure.
Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Female ; Heart Failure, Diastolic ; Humans ; Pericardiectomy ; Pericarditis, Constrictive* ; Protein-Losing Enteropathies*