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Clinical characteristics and treatment of constrictive pericarditis in Taiwan

Robert Fu-Chean Chen1, Cha-Po Lai

  • 1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital and Wan-Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Circulation Journal : Official Journal of the Japanese Circulation Society
|March 26, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Pericardiectomy is the primary treatment for constrictive pericarditis. This study highlights bacterial infections, particularly tuberculosis, as a key cause in Taiwan, with median sternotomy proving an effective surgical approach.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Infectious Disease

Background:

  • Constrictive pericarditis restricts heart diastolic filling.
  • Pericardiectomy is the established treatment for this condition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of constrictive pericarditis patients undergoing pericardiectomy.
  • To identify major etiologies and evaluate surgical approaches.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 23 patients who underwent pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis.
  • Surgical approaches included left anterolateral thoracotomy with transsternal extension and median sternotomy.

Main Results:

  • Overall mortality rate was 8.7% (2 deaths).
  • Major etiologies included Mycobacterium tuberculosis (8 patients), streptococcus (2), strongyloidiasis (1), post-myocardial infarction (1), post-cardiac surgery (2), connective tissue disorders (3), and idiopathic (6).
  • Median sternotomy was used in 20 patients.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial infections, especially Mycobacterium tuberculosis, are a significant cause of constrictive pericarditis in Taiwan.
  • Median sternotomy is an effective surgical approach for pericardiectomy.
Abstract

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