Partial right pericardial defect with surgical repair
Masuda, H.; Ogata, T.; Tanaka, S.; Kikuchi, K.; Yoshizu, H.; Takagi, K.
Nihon Kyobu Geka Gakkai 33(8): 1245-1249
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0369-4739 PMID: 4078381 Document Number: 258602
A 21-year-old man was referred by a local physician to the National Defence Medical College Hospital because of chest pain and an abnormal cardiac shadow on the chest roentgenograms. He was in good health but past history showed a faintness attack of unknown origin and has become to feel exertional dyspnea. The angiocardiograms revealed protrusion of right atrium through the partial defect of the pericardium. Then surgical repair was performed on December 14 1983. In the operation, a portion of the pericardial defect was covered by parietal pleura and fatty tissue and they were strongly adhering to the epicardium of the right atrium. It was considered that this adhesion was the cause of preoperative complaints. The size of the pericardial defect was 4 .times. 5 cm. Patch closure of the pericardial defect was done using Gore-Tex sheet for the pericardium (nonporous, 0.2 mm thickness). Histological examination revealed a defect of the fibrous tissue of the pericardium. The post operative course was uneventful and he was discharged on 10th POD. The angiocardiography one month after operation did not show the protrusion of the right atrium. This is the first case of partial right pericardial defect in Japan and second surgical case in the world.