Pericardiectomy

[J-87]

Hi there... Does anyone have any info about a pericardiectomy I have been told that I need this operation. Wanna know about success rates if it will help or make things worse. Thank you

[jobristol]

Hi, I had a pericardiectomy in 2012! I needed it as my pericardium had become calcified so basically my heart had become encased in a hard shell and couldn’t beat as it should. Without the operation I’d probably not be her now! The surgeon told me after that my heart had been very tightly encased. It is a rare operation, I was very scared but there was no other option. The op lasted about 5 hours, I was told it was like peeling the skin off an orange! I was in hospital for 6 days, told the best rehab was walking which I started the day after I got home, 5 mins building up to 7 miles by 7 weeks. I felt so much better straight after the op as before it I was very breathless and couldn’t do much! Previously I had been running 10k, half marathons and full marathons! I started running again, 7 weeks after op with surgeons blessing, building up slowly to longest distance 10k. 5 years after op I developed Atrial Fibrillation, I was warned this could happen as it’s quite common after open heart surgery, but it’s not certain the op caused it! Please ask me any questions you like as it’s very rare to be able to speak to someone who has had this op!