Background: Pericardial rupture is a rare diagnosis, usually occurring secondary to
high energy blunt force trauma, which can result in subluxation of the heart. Aim: To determine a suitable method for repair of a pericardial defect post
traumatic pericardial rupture. Case: We present a 55-year-old male who
was found to have a large pericardial defect intra-operatively while undergoing
an elective Ross procedure. The defect was repaired with a Gore-Tex membrane.
The patient underwent revision sternotomy and repair of the pericardium due to
inadequate laxity of the repaired pericardium resulting in hemodynamic instability. Conclusion: Synthetic membranes, such as Gore-Tex membranes, can be used
successfully for repair of large pericardial defects but care must be taken to
prevent undue tension secondary to taut repair, resulting in hemodynamic
compromise.
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