Cardiac herniation following intrapericardial pneumonectomy

Deiraniya, A. K. (1974).Thorax, 29, 545-552. Cardiac herniation following intrapericardial pneumonectomy. Cardiac herniation is a rare and catastrophic complication of intrapericardial pneumonectomy. Untreated it is invariably fatal. This paper reports three cases of cardiac herniation following intrapericardial pneumonectomy. In two cases massive haemorrhage complicated the cardiac herniation. All three cases were re-explored with two immediate survivals. The diagnosis, aetiology, haemodynamic effects, and management of this complication are discussed, and previously reported cases are reviewed.