Validation of Waffle procedure for constrictive pericarditis with epicardial thickening

Waffle procedure, a small grid-like incision of epicardium, is a surgical technique for constrictive pericarditis with epicardial thickening. Yet evidences to endorse this approach for improved outcomes are lacking. The aim of this study is to elucidate better surgical treatment strategy for constrictive pericarditis with epicardial thickening.

Twenty-five patients (mean 64.1 years) who underwent pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis between January 1992 and July 2012 were included in this study and were classified into two groups according to the procedure they received; single total pericardiectomy (Group A, n = 17) and total pericardiectomy with the Waffle procedure (Group B, n = 8). Early and mid-term outcomes were analyzed for each group.

No major postoperative complications or all-cause deaths at 30 days were observed in each group. Upon discharge, postoperative echocardiography showed statistically significant increase of left ventricular end-diastolic volume (from 76.6 ± 30.3 to 91.0 ± 27.3 ml; p < 0.02) and systolic volume (from 44.4 ± 19.1 to 54.5 ± 17.3 ml; p < 0.05) in Group B than those in Group A. The 5-year cardiac event-free rate was similar between groups [83.6 ± 10.8 % for group A and 83.3 ± 15.2 % for group B (p = NS)] as well as the mean value of NYHA classification for each at the mid-term periods (1.5 for Group A and 1.3 for Group B).

Waffle procedure improved echocardiographic elements of diastolic function of patients with epicardial thickening more than did total pericardiectomy without additional compromises.