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[Partial pericardectomy using videothoracoscopy]
P Bastos1, J Casanova, L Gonçalves
1Centro de Cirurgia Torácica, Hospital de São João, Porto.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to assess the validity of videothoracoscopy in the treatment of chronic pericardial effusions.
Study Patients:
We studied 13 consecutive patients with chronic pericardial effusions and an indication for surgical treatment. The patients, 10 female and 3 male, had a mean age of 48 years (21-72 years). Eleven patients had recurrent pericardial effusion and two patients had anterior mediastinal masses of unknown etiology and a large pericardial effusion.
Methods:
A videothoracoscopy was performed in every patient, under general anesthesia with a double-lumen endotracheal tube. The thoracic cavity was inspected, the pericardial effusion was drained and a partial pericardectomy was performed.
Results:
There was no postoperative mortality or morbidity. Average duration of postoperative thoracic drain and postoperative stay were, 1.2 and 2.4 days respectively. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 48 months (mean 23.3 months). One patient died due to progression of his malignant disease. There were no cases of recurrent pericardial effusions.
Conclusions:
Video assisted pericardectomy is a safe technique that should be considered in the treatment of chronic pericardial effusions.