Left subcostal approach to the pericardium.

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Thoracic Procedures

Background:

• The pericardium is crucial for cardiac function.
• Surgical access to the pericardium is essential for various cardiac procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the benefits of the subcostal approach for pericardial exposure.
• To investigate the underutilization of this surgical technique.

Main Methods:

• Review of surgical cases utilizing the subcostal approach.
• Comparison of pericardial exposure with the subxiphoid approach.

Main Results:

• The subcostal approach provides broader exposure of the pericardium.
• The subcostal approach was described 40 years ago but is not widely adopted.

Conclusions:

• The subcostal approach is a valuable, yet underused, method for pericardial access.
• Further investigation into the reasons for its limited use may be warranted.