[A case of constrictive pericarditis reoperated 13 years after pericardiectomy by left thoracotomy approach].

A 48-year-old male with constrictive pericarditis was reoperated through median sternotomy 13 years after pericardiectomy through left thoracotomy. Extensive pericardiectomy is the most important point for constrictive pericarditis. Therefore, we have recently chosen the median sternotomy approach which has advantages over the left thoracotomy approach. Namely, the cardiopulmonary bypass is performed in the former approach immediately if the posterior pericardiectomy is difficult or the coronary arterial injury happens during decortication.