title: Pleural flap closure of pericardial defects following intrapericardial pneumonectomy.
abstract: Persistent pericardial defects following intrapericardial pneumonectomy are, historically, the major cause of iatrogenic cardiac herniation. This complication is uniformly fatal when unrecognized and untreated and has been associated with a 43% mortality even with surgical correction. Suture approximation of all small defects is recommended, and a technique for routine pleural flap closure of moderate to large-sized defects is described.
mesh_terms: D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D010496:Pericardium / Q000601:surgery*; D010994:Pleura / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013536:Suture Techniques