THE FIRST CASE OF SUCCESSFUL THORACOSCOPIC PERICARDECTOMY IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS IN INFANT AGED 1,5 MONTHS WITH FIBRINOPURULENT PERICARDITIS
The article describes the first successful thoracoscopic pericardectomy performed in the Republic of Belarus in the infant aged 1,5 months due to the acute fibrinopurulent exudative pericarditis. Pericarditis is the inflammation of the serous heart membrane. According to pericarditis clinical signs the acute, subacute and chronic course has been defined. Depending on the inflammatory nature of pericarditis the fibrinous and exudative pericarditis with the presence of purulent, fibrinopurulent, serous, serous-fibrinous and hemorrhagic effusion has been determed. Surgical treatment is indicated in case of a life-threatening condition and development of the cardiac tamponade, in purulent and constrictive pericarditis. Issues related to a method and size of surgical intervention in acute purulent pericarditis in children are discussed in this paper. The infant was performed the subtotal thoracoscopic pericardectomy with good clinical and cosmetic effect. The case is interesting due to the application of minimally invasive technique in an infant of the first months of life. Pericardectomy is an effective treatment method of purulent and fibrinopurulent pericarditis. Thoracoscopic pericardectomy is an effective and feasible alternative to thoracotomy and sternotomy; since it is a minimally invasive procedure advantageous in reducing tissue response to trauma and for rapid recovery. Thoracoscopic pericardiectomy is an advisable surgical procedure for pyopericardium in children and requires further study of the long-term results.