This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by VIOLA, A. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by VIOLA, A. R.

(Circulation. 1973;48:1038.)
© 1973 American Heart Association, Inc.

---

The Influence of Pericardiectomy on the Hemodynamics of Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis

ANGEL R. VIOLA M.D.¹

¹ From the Cardiopulmonary Laboratory, Instituto de Cirugía Torácica and Centro de Rehabilitación Respiratoria María Ferrer, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Preoperative and postoperative right heart catheterizations were performed on six patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis. Before surgery the patients characteristically showed distinct elevation of right ventricular end-diastolic, pulmonary arterial and wedge pressures. During the operation, right and left ventricular pressure curves were recorded both before and after pericardial resection. Before decortication, the average values of end-diastolic pressures for the right and left ventricles were 17 and 20 mm Hg respectively. No significant changes were observed after pericardiectomy was completed. However, all patients showed excellent clinical recoveries. Postoperative catheterizations performed two to five months after operation disclosed normal intracardiac pressures.

Persistent impairment of ventricular performance in the early period after pericardiectomy must be attributed to a reversible myocardial failure.

Key Words: Cardiac catheterization • Preoperative and postoperative hemodynamics • Intraoperative pressure measurements • Ventricular end-diastolic pressure • Restoration of normal intracardiac pressure • Myocardial failure

Submitted on April 26, 1973
Accepted on June 20, 1973

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Tiruvoipati, R. D. Naik, M. Loubani, and G. N. Billa Surgical approach for pericardiectomy: a comparative study between median sternotomy and left anterolateral thoracotomy Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, September 1, 2003; 2(3): 322 - 326. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Tirilomis Pericardiectomy for Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, September 1, 2002; 10(3): 288 - 289. [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Omoto, K. Minami, D. Varvaras, D. Bothig, and R. Korfer Radical Pericardiectomy for Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, December 1, 2001; 9(4): 286 - 290. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. H. Ling, J. K. Oh, H. V. Schaff, G. K. Danielson, D. W. Mahoney, J. B. Seward, and A. J. Tajik Constrictive Pericarditis in the Modern Era : Evolving Clinical Spectrum and Impact on Outcome After Pericardiectomy Circulation, September 28, 1999; 100(13): 1380 - 1386. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Senni, M. M. Redfield, L. H. Ling, G. K. Danielson, A. J. Tajik, and J. K. Oh Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function after pericardiectomy in patients with constrictive pericarditis: Doppler echocardiographic findings and correlation with clinical status J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., April 1, 1999; 33(5): 1182 - 1188. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]