Pericardiectomy using the starfish heart positioner.
We describe the use of the Starfish 2 heart positioning device as an aid to performing pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis. Whilst mainly a tool for off-pump coronary artery surgery, the Starfish device allows excellent cardiac positioning and haemodynamic stability during pericadiectomy via median sternotomy, without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass.
Almeida
Aubrey A
AA
Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit, Monash Medical Centre, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia. aubreyalmeida@hotmail.com
Al-Shawawreh
Jaser
J
Zimmet
Adam D
AD
D006801:Humans; D010492:Pericardiectomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000601:surgery*; D010496:Pericardium