Pericardial Complications in Hepatic Trauma

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
During a 5-yr period, 35 of 70 patients with liver trauma required entry of the thoracic cavity, with 9 deaths. Pericardial complications developed in 4 of the 9 survivors who had both thoracic and abdominal incisions. Two patients resolved their problems (postpericardiotomy syndrome, late pericarditis) with medical therapy. One patient required emergency thoracotomy for pericardial tamponade, and 1 patient developed constrictive pericarditis that required pericardiectomy. Available data support closure of the pericardium after pericardiotomy. Thoracic extension of abdominal incisions is often necessary. Pericardial complications may occur with hepatic trauma in the early or late postoperative periods and are potentially fatal.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: