Surgical management of cardiac tamponade: Is left anterior minithoracotomy really safe and effective?

Barone, Mirko; Prioletta, Marco; Cipollone, Giuseppe; Di Nuzzo, Decio; Camplese, Pierpaolo; Mucilli, Felice

doi:10.15171/jept.2017.04

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Chieti, Chieti, Italy

https://doi.org/10.15171/jept.2017.04

Abstract

Objective: Cardiac tamponade is a life-threatening clinical entity that requires an emergency treatment. Cardiac tamponade can be caused both by benign and malignant diseases. A variety of methods have been described for the treatment of these cases from needle-guided pericardiocentesis, balloon-based techniques to surgical pericardiotomy. The Authors report their experience in surgical management of cardiac tamponade and an exhaustive review of literature.
Methods: This study involved 61 patients (37 males and 24 females) with an average age of 61.80 ± 16.32 years. All patients underwent emergency surgery due to the presence of cardiac tamponade.
Results: Cardiac tamponade was caused by a benign disease in 57.40% of patients. In cancer patients group, lung cancer, breast cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma were the most common neoplasms (17-27, 87%). The average preoperative size of pericardial effusion at M-2D echocardiography was 30.15 ± 5.87 mm. Postoperative complications were observed in 11 patients (18%). The reoperation rate was 3.3% (2 patients) due to relapsed cardiac tamponade. 30-day mortality rate was 3.3%. Overall cumulative survival was 29.9 ± 20.1 months. Twenty-nine patients (47.5%) died during the follow up period. By dividing the population into two groups, group B (benign) and group M (malignant), there was a statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) in terms of survival.
Conclusion: In conclusions, anterior minithoracotomy for surgical treatment of cardiac tamponade has to be held into account in patients both with benign diseases and malignancies.

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References

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Journal of Emergency Practice and Trauma

Surgical management of cardiac tamponade: Is left anterior minithoracotomy really safe and effective?

References

References

Volume 3, Issue 2
July 2017
Pages 53-58

Surgical management of cardiac tamponade: Is left anterior minithoracotomy really safe and effective?

References

References

Volume 3, Issue 2July 2017Pages 53-58

Volume 3, Issue 2
July 2017
Pages 53-58