Surgery for pericardial disease.

The pericardium is an important structure, and there are many diseases that affect the pericardium and the heart. Often, surgery is required for drainage or removal of the pericardium, but techniques are not standardized, and there is controversy, especially with regard to treatment of constrictive pericarditis. This paper reviews surgical methods for the treatment of inflammatory and constrictive pericarditis and presents early and late outcome of operation.