What is the recommended surgical procedure for patients with effusive-constrictive pericarditis requiring surgery?
Extensive epicardiectomy is considered the procedure of choice for patients with effusive-constrictive pericarditis who require surgery.
Effusive-constrictive pericarditis is an uncommon pericardial syndrome that may be missed in some patients who present with tamponade. Although evolution to persistent constriction is frequent, idiopathic cases may resolve spontaneously. In our opinion, extensive epicardiectomy is the procedure of choice in patients requiring surgery.
Sagristà-Sauleda et al. (2004) studied this question.