Pericardiectomy
Pericardiectomy
Pericardiectomy (pronunciation: per-i-car-dee-ek-toh-mee) is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a part or the entire pericardium. The pericardium is a thin, two-layered, fluid-filled sac that covers the outer surface of the heart.
Etymology
The term "Pericardiectomy" is derived from three Greek words: "peri" meaning around, "kardia" meaning heart, and "ektome" meaning excision.
Procedure
A Pericardiectomy is performed to treat conditions such as constrictive pericarditis, which is a severe thickening and hardening of the pericardium that restricts the heart's normal functioning. The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia and involves making an incision in the chest to access the heart and pericardium. The surgeon then removes the diseased part or the entire pericardium.
Related Terms
- Pericardium: The double-walled sac containing the heart and the roots of the great vessels.
- Constrictive Pericarditis: A medical condition where the pericardium becomes thickened and calcified, preventing the heart from expanding and filling with blood properly.
- Pericardial Effusion: An excess collection of fluid in the pericardial cavity.
- Cardiac Tamponade: A serious medical condition in which blood or fluids fill the space between the sac that encases the heart and the heart muscle.
Risks and Complications
Like any major surgery, a pericardiectomy carries potential risks and complications. These may include infection, bleeding, damage to the heart or lungs, irregular heart rhythms, and in rare cases, death.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pericardiectomy
- Wikipedia's article - Pericardiectomy
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski