Pericardiectomy Treatment in Turkey
About Pericardiectomy
Key Highlights
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Definitive treatment for constrictive pericarditis, relieving pressure on the heart.Can significantly improve heart function, exercise capacity, and quality of life.Addresses recurrent pericardial effusions that are unresponsive to less invasive procedures.Performed by specialized cardiac surgeons with extensive experience in heart surgery.Utilizes advanced surgical techniques and monitoring for patient safety.
Who is this surgery for?
- Constrictive Pericarditis: Thickening and scarring of the pericardium, often from prior infection (e.g., tuberculosis), radiation therapy, or cardiac surgery.
- Recurrent Pericardial Effusion: Repeated fluid accumulation around the heart causing tamponade or symptoms, not controlled by pericardiocentesis.
- Effusive-Constrictive Pericarditis: A combination of fluid buildup and constriction.
- Purulent Pericarditis: A severe bacterial infection of the pericardial sac.
- Pericardial Disease causing significant, refractory symptoms like dyspnea, fatigue, and edema.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive cardiac evaluation including echocardiogram, CT scan, and sometimes cardiac catheterization to confirm diagnosis and assess heart function.
- Pre-operative blood tests, chest X-ray, and ECG.
- Management of any active infections or other medical conditions (e.g., optimizing kidney function).
- Discussion of medications; patients may need to stop blood thinners (anticoagulants) several days before surgery.
- Fasting for 8-12 hours prior to the procedure as per anesthesia guidelines.
- Informed consent process detailing the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the surgery.
Risks & possible complications
- General Surgical Risks: Bleeding, infection, blood clots, and adverse reactions to anesthesia.
- Cardiac-Specific Risks: Injury to the heart muscle or coronary arteries during dissection, which may require additional repair.
- Arrhythmias: Irregular heart rhythms, which are common after heart surgery.
- Low Cardiac Output: The heart may struggle to pump effectively immediately after the constriction is relieved.
- Recurrence: Incomplete removal of pericardial tissue can lead to symptom recurrence.
- Pulmonary Complications: Fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion) or pneumonia.
- Phrenic Nerve Injury: Potential damage to the nerve controlling the diaphragm, affecting breathing.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Hospital Stay: Initial recovery in the Cardiac ICU for close monitoring, followed by transfer to a step-down unit. Total hospital stay typically lasts several days to over a week.
- Pain Management: Medications are provided to manage post-operative pain from the sternotomy incision.
- Activity: Gradual mobilization is encouraged. Patients will receive guidance on sternal precautions (e.g., no heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling) for 6-8 weeks to allow the breastbone to heal.
- Medications: May include pain relievers, medications to manage heart rhythm or fluid balance, and sometimes temporary blood thinners.
- Follow-up: Regular follow-up appointments with the cardiac surgeon and cardiologist are essential to monitor heart function and recovery progress.
- Cardiac Rehabilitation: A supervised exercise and education program is often recommended to regain strength and endurance safely.
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Typical hospital stay:
7-14 days
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Expected recovery time:
6-12 weeks for initial recovery; 3-6 months for full recovery
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering pericardiectomy in Turkey, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for pericardiectomy in Turkey include Liv Hospital Ankara, Istinye Üniversitesi Hastanesi Liv, VM Medical Park Pendik Hastanesi, Medical Park Florya, Medical Park Bahçelievler, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform pericardiectomy. MediFyr helps you compare cardiac surgeons and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for pericardiectomy compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Pericardiectomy in Turkey
These partner hospitals in Turkey have dedicated cardiac surgery teams and experience managing patients undergoing pericardiectomy.
Instabul, Turkey
140 Doctors
Myra Iyer, a 58-year-old retired school...
Myra Iyer, a 58-year-old retired school principal from Chennai, had always been active and health-conscious. For over a year, she battled a relentless, crushing fatigue and shortness of breath that made climbing her apartment stairs feel like a marathon. Her ankles swelled, and she developed a persistent, dry cough. Initially dismissed as stress or aging, her symptoms worsened until a routine echocardiogram revealed a severely thickened and calcified pericardium, constrictive pericarditis, likely a late consequence of a childhood bout of tuberculosis. Her cardiologist, Dr. Rao, explained that her heart was trapped in a rigid, unyielding sac, preventing it from filling properly. Medication could only manage symptoms; a pericardiectomy to surgically strip away the diseased pericardium was the only definitive cure. Terrified but out of options, Myra agreed. The surgery was long and complex, but successful. In the Cardiac ICU, the immediate relief in her breathing was profound. Recovery in the hospital was painful and slow, requiring careful management of her heart rhythms and fluid balance. Back home, guided by cardiac rehab, she regained strength week by week. The emotional journey was a rollercoaster: from the fear of a heart operation and grief for her lost vitality, to a cautious hope post-surgery, and finally, to profound gratitude. Six months later, gardening again without gasping for air, she feels she has been given her life back.
Cardiac surgeons for Pericardiectomy
Explore experienced cardiac surgeons who regularly perform pericardiectomy and provide pre- and post-operative care in Turkey.
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