THORACOSCOPIC PERICARDIAL FENESTRATION AFTER CARDIAC TRANSPLANTATION

A patient suffered from recurrent pericardial effusions following hear t transplantation. Repeated pericardiocentesis and insertion of perica rdial drains could not resolve the problem and therefore surgical inte rvention was necessary, The procedure was performed as a minimally inv asive thoracoscopic pericardial fenestration. Four months postoperativ e the patient was without recurrences, This method of pericardial fene stration after heart transplantation has been used for the first time.