[A case of constrictive pericarditis--adjuvant techniques of operation and evaluation of the perioperative cardiac function].
A 43-year-old male diagnosed as constrictive pericarditis with dyspnea, fatigability and substantial pericardial calcification on chest roentgenogram underwent pericardiectomy through median sternotomy. The heavily calcified pericardium which was adherent to the anterior and diaphragmatic surface of the heart was successfully resected by the combined use of ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) and argon beam coagulator (ABC). Intraoperative bleeding was minimal because the adhesion between the pericardium and myocardium, coronary arteries or inferior vena cava were easily dissected with CUSA. Intraoperative hemostasis was also satisfactory with ABC. Perioperative measurements of right ventricular ejection fraction were also effective in evaluating the right ventricular function.
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Aomori Prefectural Central Hospital, Japan.
Y
Y
Ono
S
S
Kikuchi
S
S
Takahashi
H
H
Yokoyama
K
K
Maida
S
S
Tanaka
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010492:Pericardiectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right