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Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has several outpatient and urgent care centers throughout South Florida, including on-demand, virtual care.
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We have expertise in treating children and educating families on hundreds of different conditions.
We use cutting-edge, specialized treatments and procedures to ensure the best care for your child.
Also known as: surgical pericardiectomy.
The body’s heart is enclosed in a protective covering called a sac. The sac has two layers with fluid between them that reduce friction as the heart beats. When too much fluid builds up between the layers, this can cause a variety of problems. Pericardial window is a procedure to remove this excess fluid.
The surgeon makes a small cut under the breast bone or between two ribs. An incision in the sac allows fluid to drain from it, and that fluid is directed into the abdominal cavity. A tube may also be inserted to allow fluid to drain for a while after the surgery.
You will likely need to stop eating or drinking at midnight the day of the surgery. You might also have to stop taking certain medications for a time.
Reviewed by: Bhavi Patel, DO
This page was last updated on: April 30, 2021 03:22 PM
The Heart Institute – a world leader in pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery and the care of children with congenital heart disorders – serves as a beacon to families confronting the reality of a child or newborn with a heart defect.
The pericardium is a two thin layer sac that surrounds the heart. Normally, there is a small layer of fluid between the inner and outer layers. When the layers become inflamed, or infected, the condition is known as pericarditis.