Acute cardiac herniation following intrapericardial pneumonectomy.
Cardiac herniation is a rare but potentially fatal complication of intrapericardial pneumonectomy. It usually occurs within the first 24 hours postoperatively. Symptoms are side-related. It has a sudden onset and invariably evolves to cardio-vascular collapse. Clinical suspicion combined with plain chest X-ray and electrocardiographic changes must lead to a quick diagnosis. Definitive treatment requires prompt surgical action. Closure of the pericardial defect during initial operation does not exclude the possibility of cardiac herniation. We present a patient with a right-sided cardiac herniation after intrapericardial pneumonectomy. Patient was treated surgically and survived.
Vanoverbeke
H M
HM
Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Sint-Antonius Ziekenhuis, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Schepens
M A
MA
Knaepen
P J
PJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006547:Hernia / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications