SURGICAL TREATMENT FOR CONSTRICTIVE PERICARDITIS

Aim: To analyse the effcct of surgical treatment for constrictive pericarditis retrospectively. Methods: 52 patients (35 males, 17 females) with constrictive pericarditis underwent partial pericardectomy. The mean age was 32. 2 yearold and the interval varied from 1 month to 22 years. The approach included a left antero - lateral thoracotomy (45 pts. ), a left antero - lateral thoracotomy with transverse sternotomy (5 pts. ), and a median sternotomy (2 pts. ), ResultS: There was no operative motality. Chmplete remission in 4 6 patients, spoptomatic improvement in 4 and no improvement in 2.Conclusion: Once the diagnosis on constrictive pericarditis done, the patient should be operated on as gnn as possible. The pe-rioperative treatment is important. The extent of pericardectomy is the main factor on surgical results and the approach has no significant effect on long - term results.