Long-term experience with pericardiectomy: analysis of 105 consecutive patients

A retrospective analysis of the records of 105 patients who underwent pericardiectomy from 1983 to 1993 was performed. Primarily, 40 patients (38%) had tuberculosis, 16 patients (15%) a malignancy, 12 patients (11.4%) uremia, and 11 patients (10.5%) had rheumatic disorders. Pericardiectomy was performed through midline sternotomy in all cases, 9 of them required cardiopulmonary bypass. On operation, the anterior pericardium was excised parallel to the phrenic nerves on both side. The early mortality rate was 10.5% (11 patients). Mean follow-up time was 5.8 +/- 2.1 years, ranging from 1 year to 11 years. Actuarial survival of the patients at 1 year and 5 years were 81.1% +/- 6.8% and 63.5% +/- 8.2%, respectively. We conclude that pericardiectomy using midline sternotomy with or without cardiopulmonary bypass can be performed safely and can lead to good functional results and long-term survival.