Experimental Studies of the Pericardial Releasing Technique in Rabbits

가토에서 심낭이완술에 관한 실험적 연구

Reoperations following cardiac surgery have an increased risk of the danger of damaging the heart, great vessels or extracardiac grafts because of adhesions to the sternum. We experimentally evaluated 3 different methods for pericardial closure. A standardized procedure for induction of pericardial adhesions was carried out in 30 rabbits. For closure of pericardium, animals were divided into 3 groups, 10 animals respectively: Croup 1 [simple pericardial closure]The pericardium was primarily resuture; Group 2 [Core-Tex surgical membrane as a pericardial substitute]- A Gore-Tex surgical membrane was interposed between the sternum and the heart; and Group 3 [pericardial tension releasing technique]-Three longitudinal overlapping incisions were made on the right side of the pericardium while the midline incison was sutured. Animals were put to death 4 weeks postoperatively and the pericardial space was examined for pericardial adhesions and epicardial reactions. The extent of adhesions and reactions were graded as: I-none; II-minimal; III-moderate; and IV-severe. Histologic studies of the pericardium, the pericardial substitute and the epicardium were also performed. The results were as follows: 1. In group 1 [simple pericardial closure], the degree of pericardial adhesions were grade I in 1 animal, grade II in 2, grade III in 4 and grade IV in 3. Epicardial reactions were grade I in 1 animal, grade II in 3, grade III in 5 and grade IV in 1. Histologic examination revealed thick fibrous tissue that obliterated the pericardial space in 7 animals. 2. In group 2 [Gore-Tex surgical membrane as a pericardial substitute], the degree of pericardial adhesions were grade I in 3 animals, grade II in 3, grade III in 2 and grade IV in 2. The degree of epicardial reactions were grade II in 1 animal, grade III in 5 and grade IV in 4. Histologic studies revealed a thin layer of dense fibrous tissue which covered the Gore-Tex surgical membrane and thick loose fibrous tissue on the epicardium just beneath the substitute. 3. In group 3 [pericardial tension releasing technique], the degree of pericardial adhesions were grade I in 3 animals, grade II in 4, grade III in 2 and grade IV in 1. The degree of epicardial reactions were grade 1 in 4 animals, grade II in 4 and grade III in 2. Severe epicardial reactions were not observed in this group. Histologic examination showed normal epicardium in 4 animals and the epicardium of the other 6 animals only revealed very thin fibrous layer compared to group I and group II. Pericardial adhesions more than grade III were 70% in group 1, 40% in group 2 and 30% in group 3. Pericardial adhesions were reduced in group 2 and group 3 compared to group 1, but statistically not significant. Epicardial reactions more than grade III were 60% in group 1, 90% in group 2 and 20% in group 3. Epicardial reactions were significantly reduced in group 3 compared to group 2. Author`s modified pericardial releasing technique provides marked augment of pericardial surface area and facilitates tension-free pericardial closure. Furthermore, pericardial adhesion and epicardial reaction will be reduced with the pericardial tension releasing technique.