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Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Acute postoperative cardiac herniation
Kenji Kawamukai1, Filippo Antonacci, Salomone Di Saverio
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Maggiore and Bellaria Hospitals, Via Altura 3, 40139 Bologna, Italy. Kenjikawamukai@yahoo.it
Abstract:
Acute herniation of the heart is an uncommon complication in patients undergoing pneumonectomy with associated pericardial resection. We report the case of a postoperative cardiac herniation after a right extrapleural pneumonectomy following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma. After surgery the patient was completely asymptomatic, but a postoperative chest X-ray revealed unexpected massive dextrocardia. The patient was immediately brought back to the operating room: a cardiac herniation was found to be caused by a partial dehiscence of the pericardial prosthesis suture. The defect was repaired without consequences.
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