Pericardium Surgery of Chest

The pericardium is a thin sac that surrounds the heart. It protects the heart and provides the lubrication for the heart.

Constrictive Pericarditis

Constrictive pericarditis is long-term inflammation of the pericardium. Inflammation in this part of the heart causes scarring, thickening, and muscle tightening, or contracture. If it left untreated, a rigid pericardium can lead to symptoms of heart failure, which may even be life-threatening. Most common cause is tuberculosis. There are effective treatments for the condition. The definitive treatment for constrictive pericarditis is precardiectomy which is a surgical procedure where the entire pericardium is peeled away from the heart. This allows the heart to move freely.

Pericardial Window

A pericardial window is done to drain the excessive fluid around the heart. It can also help diagnose the source of the extra fluid. Conditions that might need a pericardial window include metastatic cancer, Immune system disease and metabolic causes, like kidney failure with uremia. We offer key-hole surgery to these patients with excellent outcomes.