Congenital Heart Surgery Nomenclature and Database Project: diseases of the pericardium

Abstract

The extant nomenclature for pericardial disease is reviewed for the purpose of establishing a unified reporting system. The subject was debated and reviewed by members of the STS-Congenital Heart Surgery Database Committee and representatives from the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery. All efforts were made to include all relevant nomenclature categories, using synonyms where appropriate. No classification system has been reported. The groups were based on disease processes, and include: effusive pericarditis (pericardial effusion), constrictive pericarditis, cardiac tamponade, postoperative pericardial effusion, postoperative cardiac tamponade, postpericardiotomy syndrome, congenital defect, neoplastic process, benign mass, pericardial cyst, pneumopericardium, and chylopericardium. A comprehensive database set is presented that is based on a hierarchical scheme. Data are entered at various levels of complexity and detail, which can be determined by the clinician. These data can lay the foundation for comprehensive risk stratification analyses. A minimum database set is also presented that will allow for data sharing and would lend itself to basic interpretation of trends.