[Surgical treatment of chronic constrictive pericarditis]

From April, 1969 to December, 1988, partial pericardiectomy was performed in 78 patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis. The long-term follow-up study in 60 patients showed a satisfactory functional result. The authors considers that the median sternotomy is a better approach, the effectiveness of operation should be gauzed by dropping the vena cave pressure below 140 mmH2O, resection of pericardium from left to right is logical, and rational use of cardiotonic agents is important.