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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1984; 32(5): 311-314
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1023411
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Chronic Constrictive Pericarditis Treated with Total Pericardiectomy

M. T. Aagaard, V. Y. Haraldsted
  • Department of Thoracic Surgery, Aarhus Kommunehospital, Aarhus, Denmark
Further Information

Publication History

1983

Publication Date:
29 May 2008 (online)

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Summary

The early and late results of total pericardiectomy performed during a 30-year period in 34 patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis are presented. The overall hospital mortality was 8.8%. The cumulative 5-, 10-, and 30-year survival rates were 79%, 65% and 53%, respectively. Preoperatively, 94% of the patients were classified in functional class III or IV (NYHA Classification). After 3 months' follow-up, 94% of the surviving patients were in functional class I or II. After an average 14.2 year follow-up period, 94% of the surviving patients were in functional class I, and of these 72 % were in fulltime jobs. It is concluded that the tendency towards early surgery should be encouraged, especially because the chronic state is accompanied by deleterious effects.

Key words

Chronic constrictive pericarditis - Total pericardiectomy - Early and late follow-up

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