Fluid Balance of the Second Day Following Operation is Associated with Early Mortality and Multiorgan Failure After Pericardiectomy for Constrictive Pericarditis

Background The operative mortality of pericardiectomy still is high. This retrospective study was conducted to determine the risk factors of early mortality and multiorgan failure. Methods We retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing pericardiectomy from January 2009 to June 2020 at our hospital. Pericardiectomy was performed via sternotomy. Histopathologic studies of pericardium tissue from every patient were done. All survivors were monitored to the end date of the study. Results Ninety-two consecutive patients undergoing pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis were included in the study. Postoperatively, central venous pressure significantly decreased, and left ventricular end diastolic dimension and left ventricular ejection fractions significantly improved. The overall mortality rate was 5.4%. The common postoperative complications include acute renal injury (27.2%), and multiorgan failure (8.7%). Analyses of risk factors showed that fluid balance of the second day following operation is associated with early mortality and multiorgan failure. In this series from Guangxi, China, characteristic histopathologic features of tuberculosis (60/92, 65.2%) of pericardium were the most common histopathologic findings, and 32 patients (32/92, 34.8%) had the histopathologic findings of chronic nonspecific inflammatory changes. The functional status of the patients improved after pericardiectomy; 6 months later postoperatively 85 survivors were in class I (85/87, 97.7%) and two were in class II (2/87, 2.3%). Conclusions Tuberculosis is the most common cause of constrictive pericarditis in Guangxi, China. Fluid balance of the second day following operation is associated with early mortality and multiorgan failure after pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis in our study.