[Surgical treatment of 2 cases of irradiation induced constrictive pericarditis].
<Case 1> A 72-years-old man underwent radiation therapy (62 Gy) for esophageal carcinoma. Twelve months later, symptoms of heart failure such as syncope, cough and hepatomegaly manifested. On catheter study, a dip and plateau pattern of right ventricular pressure curve was evident. Pericardiectomy without extracorporeal circulation was performed. Operative findings and pathological results were compatible with radiation-induced constrictive pericarditis. He recovered from the heart failure, and has been doing well 3 months after the surgery. <Case 2> A 54-years-old man underwent thymectomy for malignant thymoma. He underwent a radiation therapy (52 Gy) postoperatively. After 12 months from the irradiation, syncope and dyspnea manifested. On catheter study, a dip and plateau pattern of right ventricular pressure curve was observed. Pericardiectomy with extracorporeal circulation was performed. He recovered from the heart failure after pericardiectomy, however he died of radiation-induced pneumonitis 6 months later.
Osawa
H
H
Second Department of Surgery, Yamanashi Medical University, Japan.
Takahashi
W
W
Yoshii
S
S
Hosaka
S
S
Kaga
S
S
Fukuda
N
N
Samuel
A
A
Nagasaka
S
S
Miyauchi
Y
Y
Tada
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010492:Pericardiectomy; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D017564:Radiation Pneumonitis / Q000209:etiology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome