Best Doctor List Near You for Pericardiectomy in Brookline

Pericardiectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of part or all of the pericardium, the thin sac surrounding the heart. This surgery is typically performed to treat constrictive pericarditis, a condition where the pericardium becomes thickened or scarred, restricting the heart's ability to expand and fill properly. Constrictive pericarditis can result from various causes, including infections (such as tuberculosis), previous heart surgeries, radiation therapy, autoimmune diseases, or idiopathic causes. Over time, the rigid pericardium can impair heart function, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in the abdomen and legs, and heart failure. The goal of pericardiectomy is to relieve these symptoms by removing the constrictive pericardial tissue and restoring the heart's ability to pump efficiently. The procedure is typically performed via open-heart surgery, where the surgeon gains access to the heart through the chest. Although pericardiectomy can be life-saving, it carries risks and potential complications. These include infection, bleeding, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), injury to surrounding structures (such as the heart or lungs), and in rare cases, heart failure or death. Post-surgical complications may also involve prolonged recovery time due to the invasive nature of the procedure. In some patients, pericardiectomy may not fully reverse heart damage if the condition has progressed significantly before surgery. Despite these risks, pericardiectomy offers significant symptom relief and improved quality of life for patients with severe constrictive pericarditis.