The transverse and oblique sinuses of the pericardium: Anatomic and echocardiographic insights

A number of masses and pseudomasses may be encountered during the echocardiographic examination of the transverse and oblique sinuses with significant clinical implications. This review discusses the clinically relevant anatomy of the pericardial sinuses emphasizing diagnostic pitfalls that may be encountered during their echocardiographic examination.     

小儿心包积液28例临床分析

目的：探讨小儿心包积液的病因、分类及诊断。方法：病例回顾性分析。结果：28例中，化脓性心包积液4例，结缔组织疾病所致心包积液16例，肾病综合征所致心包答液4例，病毒性、肺吸虫性、幼年型粘液性水肿及肿瘤性心包积液各1例。治愈、好转25例，另3例，分别死于急性心包填塞，风湿性全心炎、心功能不全、呼衰、纵隔肿瘤广泛转移。结论：小儿心包积液，可由多种致病因素引起。其临床特点，对该病的诊治有重要意义。     

Cardiac tamponade due to intrapericardial rupture of an amebic liver abscess

Pericardial abscess is rare in healthy individuals, especially the amebic type. We report a case of pericardial abscess and cardiac tamponade due to intrapericardial rupture of an amebic liver abscess. A 31-year old Japanese male complained of fever to a local hospital. A liver mass was discovered in his left hepatic lobe by an abdominal echogram. He was referred to the internal department of our hospital and was treated with quinolone antibiotics. Two weeks after medication, he suddenly complained of epigastralgia and severe orthopnea and was admitted. Abdominal computed tomographic scan showed an enlarged liver mass, and massive pericardial effusion suggested cardiac tamponade. He underwent an emergency subxiphoid partial pericardiectomy under local anesthesia. 1,000 ml of light brownish fluid was removed and his condition improved. Although no ameba was cultivated from the pus, the amebic serological test was positive. Metronidazole was administered and the patients was discharged 31 days after surgery.     

心包疾病的CT诊断

对６１例心包疾病的ＣＴ表现进行了分析。少量心包积液主要聚集在前、左象限，中、大量积液则主要向左或左后象限扩展。根据积液厚度及分布象限可作积液量的评估。缩窄性心包炎ＣＴ均显壁层心包增厚，以心包腹侧面增厚为主，部分病人伴有心包钙化、房室扩大及腔静脉扩张。心包肿瘤侵犯或转移表现为心包不规则增厚或呈结节状改变。     

Pericardial effusion following pulmonary resection

Objective Postoperative pericardial effusion commonly occurs after open heart surgery. However, after general thoracotomy such as pulmonary resection, there have been few reports of pericardial effusion. The purpose of this study is to investigate patients with pericardial effusion following pulmonary resection.Methods: Among 2,385 patients with pulmonary resection for lung neoplasm in our institute, eight patients, whose pericardium had never been opened during the operation, developed pericardial effusion. The clinical characteristics of the eight patients were analyzed.Results: Pericardial effusion after pulmonary resection was divided into two subtypes: pericardial effusion in three patients with left thoracotomy occurring within 30 days postoperatively, and pericardial effusion in the remaining five patients with right thoracotomy occurring more than 30 days postoperatively. Pericardiotomy or pericardiocentesis was performed in three symptomatic patients, and the remaining five asymptomatic patients were treated with diuretics. Pericardial effusion disappeared in three of the five patients about 1–3 months after the conservative treatment, while, in the remaining patients, because pericardial effusion had increased gradually, pericardiocentesis was performed.Conclusion: From our experience, the treatment strategy of drainage for early pericardial effusion and diuretics for late pericardial effusion seems to be appropriate. (Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2006; 54:193-198)     

Thoracoscopic closure of a congenital partial pericardial defect

We describe our technique for performing direct thoracoscopic closure of a congenital partial pericardial defect, which was successfully employed in a 15-year-old boy. This is the first such report of a procedure that is noninvasive and may therefore become the treatment of choice for patients with a small congenital pericardial defect.     

门脉高压症断流术后上消化道再出血的外科治疗探讨

目的探讨门脉高压症断流术后上消化道再出血的外科治疗方法及其疗效.方法对(1999-2000)年本科收治的34例门脉高压症断流术后上消化道再出血的病人行外科治疗及疗效分析.其中肝功能Child A组10级,B级18例,C级6例.治疗前钡餐或胃镜检查确诊.结果有14例行非手术外科治疗,2例经药物治疗止血;4例行胃镜下食道静脉套扎(EVL)止血,效果较好;6例行食管胃底曲张静脉脉硬化剂注射,2例行三腔二囊管止血,疗效不确切,再出血率62.5%(5/8).20便行手术治疗,9例行肠腔分流,2例(2/9)术后再次发生上消化道出血;术中食管胃底曲张静脉缝扎1例,食管胃底曲张静脉硬化剂注射2例,术后均再次出现上消化道出血;贲门血管再次离断2例,改良食管下段横断术3例,术后近远期疗效均可;贲门周围血管离断加肠腔分流水2例,术后有1例上消化道再出血.结论胃镜下食道静脉套扎术在非手术止血中效果较好,适合于不不宜手术的病人.手术治疗常选肠腔分流.对前次断流不彻底需再次断流,再次断流门静脉压仍高,则考虑行断流加分流.