Adrián Kolesár, Tomáš Toporcer, Martin Ledecký, Fantišek Sabol
Majority of congenital pericardial diseases are asymptomatic and diagnosed as an incidental finding. Absence of the leftsided pericardium presents 70 % of congenital pericardial defects. Pericardial effusion is the most frequent pericardial disease. Aetiology of the pericardial effusion is very diverse. Cardiac tamponade with haemodynamic consequences is an indication for pericardiocentesis, surgical fenestration of the pericardium or a shunt creation between pericardial cavity and peritoneal cavity. Short-term results of these interventions are very good. Constrictive pericarditis is an indication for pericardial excision. On the other hand perioperative risk of this procedure is relatively high.