During acute pulmonary hypertension, both the pericardium and the right ventricle (RV) constrain left ventricular (LV) filling; therefore, pericardiotomy should improve LV function. LV, RV, and pericardial pressures and RV and LV dimensions and LV stroke volume (SV) were measured in six anesthetized dogs. The pericardium was closed, the chest was left open, and the lungs were held away from the...

To determine the role of the pericardium in man, ventricular function was studied in 20 patients who underwent pericardiotomy during coronary artery bypass surgery. Left and right ventricular function curves were generated before and after pericardiotomy by changing body position to alter venous pressure. Central venous (0--14 mm Hg) and pulmonary wedge pressures (1--25 mm Hg) ranged over norma...

BACKGROUND Treatment of malignant pericardial effusion remains controversial, because no randomized controlled trials have been conducted to determine the best approach, and results of retrospective studies have been inconsistent. The objective of the present study was to compare pericardiocentesis and pericardiotomy with respect to efficacy for preventing recurrence, and to determine, for thos...

STUDY OBJECTIVE To analyze the extent of pericardial constraint on right ventricular function in humans. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty patients, 59 +/- 2 (mean +/- SEM) years old, undergoing coronary bypass surgery. Right ventricular volumes and pressures were evaluated using a rapid response Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheter. INTERVENTIONS Parameters were determined before and after pericard...

A 32-year-old man with lung cancer involving pericarditis carcinomatosa underwent pericardiotomy, using an Inoue balloon dilating catheter, to create a non-surgical pericardial window. The procedure was performed from the thoracic wall to the left pleural effusion and parietal pericardium under local anesthesia. The effects of non-surgical pericardial window had been maintained until this patie...

A 17 year old girl developed cardiac tamponade during the course of a meningococcal meningeal illness. Pericardiotomy was eventually required to alleviate the tamponade.

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether posterior pericardiotomy (PP) reduces the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Twelve papers were found using the reported search, of which seven represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, jou...