Pericarditis and Pericardial Effusions

The pericardial conditions that are frequently encountered in clinical practice are pericarditis, pericardial effusion, constrictive pericarditis, and pericardial tamponade. Although most patients with pericardial syndromes are managed medically, interventional and surgical procedures are sometimes required for drainage or for removal of the pericardium. This chapter reviews some of these pericardial syndromes and the surgical management as they may be related to the pericardial syndromes.