Surgical Removal of the Pericardium

Surgical Removal of the Pericardium

Surgical removal of the pericardium 

The pericardium is the membrane that covers the heart and provides protection for it.  Some diseases affect the pericardium, the most famous of which are infiltrative pericarditis, stenotic pericarditis, and some tumors.  These diseases impede the movement of the heart and cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, swelling of the body, and ascites, which necessitate partial or complete surgical removal of the pericardium. Prof. Dr. Muhammad El-Ghannam a consultant of open heart surgery and minimally invasive surgery provides the services of surgical removal of the pericardium which can be performed through limited surgical intervention.

Diagnosis of pericarditis

Firstly Prof.Dr. Mohammed El-Ghannam examines the patient and asks some questions about the symptoms, location of the pain, and medical history. During the physical examination, the doctor listens to the heart sounds with a stethoscope, as pericarditis produces a sound called pericardial rubbing when the two layers of the membrane rub against each other, noise is produced. In general, the doctor needs some blood tests to look for signs of a heart attack, inflammation, or infection, and other tests to diagnose pericarditis include:
  • ECG (electrocardiogram).
  • Chest X-ray.
  • Echocardiogram.
  • Computed tomography (CT) scan.
  • Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Diagnosing pericarditis requires experience and skill, and this is what Professor Dr. Muhammed El-Ghannam, a consultant of open heart and minimally invasive surgery, has gained from his distinguished reputation in the field of cardiac surgery.

Treatment of pericarditis with Prof. Dr. Mohammed El-Ghannam 

Dr. Mohammed Al-Ghannam, Consultant in Open Heart Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery, decides the treatment of pericarditis based on the cause and severity of the symptoms.

Medicines 

The doctor usually prescribes medications to treat the symptoms of pericarditis, for example:
  • Pain relievers.
  • Corticosteroids: powerful anti-inflammatory medications.
  • Immunosuppressants.
  • Antibiotics: If the pericarditis is caused by a bacterial infection. 

Surgical removal of the pericardium 

Prof. Dr. Mohammed El-Ghannam resorts to surgical intervention in cases where fluid accumulation around the heart is large, the surgical intervention is required to drain the fluid. Surgeries and procedures to treat pericarditis include the following:
  • Pericardiocentesis: In this medical procedure, dr. Mohammed El-Ghannam uses a catheter tube to remove and drain excess fluid in the pericardial cavity.
  • Pericardiectomy or surgical removal of the pericardium: This occurs if the pericardium has become inelastic due to constrictive pericarditis.
In most cases, pericardectomy or surgical removal of the pericardium is an open-heart surgery because it allows the doctor to see the entire heart and remove the pericardium properly. The recovery process usually varies from person to person and generally takes six to eight weeks.  In conclusion, Professor Dr. Muhammad Al-Ghannam, Consultant of Open Heart and Minimally Invasive Surgery, pointed out that pericarditis has many symptoms that are similar to the symptoms of other heart and lung diseases. If you suffer from any form of chest pain, you should consult the doctor immediately for a comprehensive examination. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Al-Ghannam confirms that regular follow-up is recommended to see the progress of recovery and also to note if there are any side effects or complications after the surgery.
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