Innovative Method of Pericardial Fenestration Associated With Underlying Chronic Recurrent Pericarditis: Case Report

Abstract

Objectives - to illustrate the clinical follow-up of a patient with chronic recurrent pericarditis subjected to a pericardial fenestration performed in a new manner, with subxiphoidal pericardiotomy, pericardioscopy followed by trans-pericardial thoracoscopy. Material and methods. A 69-year-old woman with chronic recurrent pericarditis and the threat of cardiac tamponade was subjected to subxiphoidal pericardiotomy, pericardioscopy and subsequent transpericardial thoracoscopy forming the pericardial window and junctions with pleural and abdominal cavity. Results. The first special aspect of the presented case is the combination of access types and the usage of non-standard access to the pleural cavity; the second one is the combined formation of fistulae between the pericardial cavity and two other cavities - the left pleural and abdominal. The positive outcome of this operation was the bidirectional drainage of pericardial exudate, as well as the minimal postoperative pain syndrome due to the absence of transthoracic access. Conclusion. The positive clinical result in the early postoperative period and during the long term followup period, the absence of complications allows for the safety of the technique and the possibility of performing such surgical operations in patients with acute and chronic exudative pericarditis and the threat of cardiac tamponade.