Immediate surgical outcome of pericardiectomy in constrictive pericarditis: Mayo Hospital six year experience

Objective: to determine immediate postoperative surgical outcome of pericardiectomy in constrictive pericarditis (cp). patients and method: from may 2006 through april 2012,a total of 44 patients diagnosed with cp undergoing pericardiectomy in department of cardiac surgery,mayo hospital,king edward medical university,lahore were included in the study. results: during 6 years period,out of 44 patients,24(54%) were male and 20 (46%) were female. all patients underwent total pericardiectomy by median sternotomy. among these patients,19 (43%) had tuberculous constrictive pericarditis,24 (54%) had idiopathic pericarditis,and 1 (2%) had previous cardiac surgery. intra operative pericardial abscess were seen in 4 patients (9%). early postoperative cvp was dropped from 21 to 11 mmhg. our mortality was 11% (5 patients),4 patients died of low cardiac output and one from respiratory complication. other early post operative complications were atrial fibrillation,hemorrhage; and sternal wound infection. conclusions: early diagnosis and surgical treatment of constrictive pericarditis are important to reduce mortality. adjunctive medical therapy and surgery has better outcome in tuberculous pericarditis.