Breaking the Constriction: Successful Pericardiectomy Outcomes in Ethiopian Patients with Constrictive Pericarditis

Abstract

Background: Constrictive pericarditis is a serious disease that can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Pericardiectomy is a surgical procedure that can effectively treat constrictive pericarditis and improve patient outcomes. However, data on clinical characteristics, surgical outcomes, and perioperative complications of Pericardiectomy in Ethiopia are limited. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the outcomes of Pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis in 65 patients who underwent the procedure between 2014 and 2022 at a tertiary care hospital in Ethiopia. Demographic and clinical data, imaging findings, surgical details, and postoperative outcomes were collected from medical records and analyzed. The primary outcomes of interest were mortality and complications within 30 days of surgery. Results: The study included predominantly male patients (84.6%) with a median age of 27 years. Tuberculosis was the most common illness (13.8%), and infectious conditions accounted for 83.1% of cases. Pericardiectomy was performed through a median sternotomy in all patients, with a mean duration of operation of 3.3 ± 0.6 hours. The majority of patients showed improvement in symptoms, functional status, and imaging findings postoperatively, with a low incidence of perioperative complications and mortality. Conclusion: Pericardiectomy is an effective treatment option for patients with constrictive pericarditis in Ethiopia, with good clinical outcomes and low perioperative complications and mortality. Careful patient selection and management are crucial to achieve successful outcomes, and long-term follow-up is essential to monitor for late complications and optimize patient outcomes.