POSTPERICARDIOTOMY-SYNDROME AND CHYLOPERICARDIUM - 2 UNUSUAL COMPLICATIONS AFTER AORTOPEXY FOR TRACHEOMALACIA

In two boys (aged 10 years and 7 months), large symptomatic pericardia l effusions developed after aortopexy for tracheomalacia. Both patient s underwent percutaneous pericardial drainage. The delayed presentatio n (3 weeks postoperatively) and associated findings in the 10 year old were typical of postpericardiotomy syndrome, and he had an uneventful recovery after a course of aspirin therapy. The 7 month old had chylo pericardium and was treated with pericardial drainage and a low-fat, m edium-chain triglyceride diet. Both cases represent previously unrepor ted complications of aortopexy.