Minimally invasive pericardial window surgery with video-assisted thoracoscopy in patients with malignancy

Introduction
In this report, we present the results of our patients who were diagnosed with primary malignancy and who underwent pericardial window surgery due to symptomatic pericardial effusion.

Material and methods
Patients who underwent pericardial window surgery with videothoracoscopy due to recurrent and symptomatic pericardial effusion in our clinic between March 2015 and September 2023 were included in the study. The study included 24 patients with malignant etiology and opening pericardial windows who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS); 18 of the patients were male, and 6 were female. The average age was 56.

Results
The pericardial window was opened on the right side in 17 patients and on the left in 7 patients. Pathological results of patients in pericardial biopsies: pericardial metastasis of the primary tumor in 16 patients, in 5 patients reported as benign and in 3 patients as chronic pericarditis.

Conclusions
Our study showed that the pericardial window procedure applied with VATS is a reliable, effective palliative treatment method. In studies involving larger patient series, interpretation can also be made in terms of survival.