Results of surgical treatment of constrictive pericarditis associated with the SARS-CoV-2 virus
Authors:
Company:
1 I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation
2 V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology, Moscow, Russian Federation
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Type: Original articles
DOI:
For citation: Pankov A.N., Bayandin N.L., Zemlyannikov I.D., Getazheev K.V., Sukmarova Z.N., Paramonova N.B., Rogatova A.N., Stepanov A.V., Semitko S.P., Ioseliani D.G. Results of surgical treatment of constrictive pericarditis associated with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Creative Cardiology. 2026; 20 (1): 128–136 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.24022/1997-3187-2026-20-1-128-136
Received / Accepted: 15.01.2026 / 24.02.2026
Keywords: constrictive pericarditis pericardiectomy new coronavirus infection COVID-19
Abstract
Objective. To analyze and presentation the results of surgical treatment of patients with constrictive pericarditis and heart failure clinical picture who had previously had a new coronavirus infection.
Material and methods. In the period from 2020 to 2024, 10 patients with a diagnosis of “Constrictive Pericarditis” were treated at the Scientific and Practical Center of Cardioangiology. It is known from anamnestic data that all patients suffered from exudative pericarditis after infection with SARS-CoV-2 or vaccination against a new coronavirus infection. All patients underwent pericardiectomy in our center due to the progression of chronic heart failure. All patients underwent surgery through a median sternotomy, on a beating heart. The pericardium was removed between the phrenic nerves along the anterior and diaphragmatic surfaces, as well as in the area of the inflow and outflow tracts. The thickness of the removed pericardium in some places reached 10 mm and was mostly hyaline tissue.
Results. There were no cases of hospital mortality. Clinical improvement was noted in 100% of patients. Complications that required changes in the treatment strategy or additional surgical intervention were not noted.
Conclusion. According to our statistical data, it can be assumed that there is a pathogenetic relationship between the development of severe forms of constrictive pericarditis and the pandemic of a new coronavirus infection 2019–2022. Surgical treatment is currently the only effective method of treating this pathology. To treat this category of patients, it is necessary to form a multidisciplinary team of highly professional specialists. It is also necessary to continue studying and developing an integrated approach to the treatment of this category of patients.
About Authors
- Andrey N. Pankov, Cand. Med. Sci., Head of the Department; ORCID
- Nikolay L. Bayandin, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Cardiovascular Surgeon; ORCID
- Ivan D. Zemlyannikov, Resident Physician; ORCID
- Kantemir V. Getazheev, Cardiovascular Surgeon; ORCID
- Zulfiya N. Sukmarova, Cand. Med. Sci., Researcher; ORCID
- Nina B. Paramonova, Cand. Med. Sci., Deputy Director of the Institute of Clinical Morphology and Digital Pathology, Head of the Centralized Pathological Anatomical Department; ORCID
- Anna N. Rogatova, Functional Diagnostician; ORCID
- Aleksandr V. Stepanov, Head of the Department; ORCID
- Sergey P. Semitko, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Director of the Scientific and Practical Center for Interventional Cardioangiology; ORCID
- David G. Ioseliani, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Chief of Chair, Honorary Director of the Scientific and Practical Center for Interventional Cardioangiology; ORCID
