[Surgical treatment of constrictive pericarditis: experience in 72 cases].

Our experience with the surgical treatment of constrictive pericarditis in 72 cases is reported. The patients receiving surgical treatment had their cardiac function improved to NYHA class I in 59 cases and class II in 11 cases, and death occurred during the operation in 1 case and after the operation in another case due to myocardial expansion and low cardiac output syndrome, respectively. The key elements to ensure success of the surgeries lie in the extent of pericardiectomy and the time and approaches chosen for the operation.