ACUTE CARDIAC HERNIATION FOLLOWING INTRAPERICARDIAL PNEUMONECTOMY

Cardiac herniation is a rare but potentially fatal complication of int rapericardial pneumonectomy. It usually occurs within the first 24 hou rs postoperatively. Symptoms are side-related. It has a sudden onset a nd invariably evolves to cardio-vascular collapse. Clinical suspicion combined with plain chest X-ray and electrocardiographic changes must lead to a quick diagnosis. Definitive treatment requires prompt surgic al action. Closure of the pericardial defect during initial operation does not exclude the possibility of cardiac herniation. We present a p atient with a right-sided cardiac herniation after intrapericardial pn eumonectomy. Patient was treated surgically and survived.