Acute postoperative cardiac herniation

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2011 Jan;12(1):73-4. doi: 10.1510/icvts.2010.245282. Epub 2010 Oct 12.

Abstract

Acute herniation of the heart is an uncommon complication in patients undergoing pneumonectomy with associated pericardial resection. We report the case of a postoperative cardiac herniation after a right extrapleural pneumonectomy following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma. After surgery the patient was completely asymptomatic, but a postoperative chest X-ray revealed unexpected massive dextrocardia. The patient was immediately brought back to the operating room: a cardiac herniation was found to be caused by a partial dehiscence of the pericardial prosthesis suture. The defect was repaired without consequences.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Asymptomatic Diseases
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / adverse effects*
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Heart Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Diseases / etiology*
  • Heart Diseases / surgery
  • Hernia / diagnostic imaging
  • Hernia / etiology*
  • Herniorrhaphy
  • Humans
  • Incidental Findings
  • Male
  • Mesothelioma / drug therapy
  • Mesothelioma / surgery*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy
  • Pericardium / surgery*
  • Pleural Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Pleural Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Pneumonectomy / adverse effects*
  • Radiography
  • Reoperation
  • Suture Techniques / adverse effects*
  • Treatment Outcome