Pericarditis Treatment in Turkey
About Pericarditis
Key Highlights
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Definitive treatment for constrictive pericarditis, relieving pressure on the heart.Can resolve recurrent pericardial effusions that do not respond to drainage.Improves heart filling and pumping capacity, alleviating symptoms like severe shortness of breath and fatigue.Offers a long-term solution for patients unresponsive to medications.Performed by specialized cardiothoracic surgeons with advanced techniques.
Who is this surgery for?
- Constrictive Pericarditis, where the scarred pericardium severely restricts heart function.
- Recurrent Pericardial Effusion with Tamponade that requires repeated drainage.
- Purulent (infected) Pericarditis not responding to antibiotics and drainage.
- Chronic, debilitating symptoms (e.g., fatigue, edema, breathlessness) despite 3-6 months of medical therapy.
- Pericarditis secondary to conditions like tuberculosis, post-radiation, or post-cardiac injury syndrome.
- Suspected neoplastic (cancerous) involvement of the pericardium.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive cardiac evaluation including echocardiogram, CT scan, or MRI to assess pericardial thickness and heart function.
- Pre-operative blood tests, chest X-ray, and ECG.
- Optimization of any co-existing medical conditions like kidney function or infections.
- Discussion of anesthesia risks and the surgical plan with the cardiac surgery and anesthesiology team.
- Fasting for 8-12 hours before the surgery as instructed.
- Adjustment or temporary cessation of certain medications like blood thinners under doctor's guidance.
Risks & possible complications
- Bleeding and potential need for blood transfusion.
- Infection at the surgical site or within the chest (mediastinitis).
- Injury to nearby structures like the heart muscle (myocardium), coronary arteries, or phrenic nerve (affecting diaphragm).
- Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) during or after surgery.
- Complications from general anesthesia.
- Post-pericardiotomy syndrome (recurrence of inflammation).
- Risk of stroke or heart attack.
- Persistent heart failure if underlying heart muscle is also damaged.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial recovery in the ICU for 1-2 days for close monitoring of heart and lung function.
- Pain management with medications; breathing exercises are crucial to prevent lung complications.
- Progressive mobilization; walking is encouraged soon after to aid recovery.
- Drainage tubes from the chest are removed once fluid output decreases.
- Discharge with instructions on wound care, activity restrictions (no heavy lifting for 6-8 weeks), and medication.
- Regular follow-up appointments to monitor heart function and recovery progress.
- Cardiac rehabilitation may be recommended to safely rebuild strength and endurance.
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Typical hospital stay:
7-10 days
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Expected recovery time:
6-12 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering pericarditis in Turkey, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for pericarditis in Turkey include Istinye Üniversitesi Hastanesi Liv, Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir, Liv Hospital Ankara, 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 pericarditis. 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 pericarditis compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Pericarditis in Turkey
These partner hospitals in Turkey have dedicated cardiac surgery teams and experience managing patients undergoing pericarditis.
Istanbul, Turkey
140 Doctors
Ananya Bhatia, a 28-year-old software engineer...
Ananya Bhatia, a 28-year-old software engineer from Mumbai, had always been healthy and active. Her life revolved around her demanding job and weekend hikes. Three weeks ago, she developed a sharp, stabbing chest pain that worsened when she lay down or took deep breaths. Initially dismissing it as muscle strain, she grew alarmed when she felt constantly short of breath and noticed a persistent low-grade fever. A visit to her GP and an urgent echocardiogram revealed a significant pericardial effusion, fluid buildup around her heart, causing early signs of cardiac tamponade, a life-threatening compression of the heart. Her cardiologist, Dr. Sharma, explained that while medication is first-line, her large, symptomatic effusion required a pericardial window procedure, a minimally invasive surgery to drain the fluid and prevent recurrence. Ananya was terrified; the thought of heart surgery felt surreal for someone so young. The procedure, performed under general anesthesia, involved making a small incision below her breastbone and using a camera to create a small 'window' in the pericardium to drain into her abdominal cavity. The relief was almost immediate; the crushing chest pain was gone. After two days in the hospital, she was discharged with anti-inflammatory medication. Over the next six weeks, guided by cardiac rehab, she gradually returned to her normal energy levels. Emotionally, she journeyed from fear and vulnerability, feeling her body had betrayed her, to profound gratitude and a new commitment to managing stress and listening to her body's signals.
Cardiac surgeons for Pericarditis
Explore experienced cardiac surgeons who regularly perform pericarditis and provide pre- and post-operative care in Turkey.
- 19 Years Experience
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- 19 Years Experience
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- 19 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon
- 19 Years Experience
- Cardiac surgeon