Congenital Left Pericardial Defect: A Case Report

선천성 좌측 심낭결손증 [1례 보고]

Congenital pericardial defect is a rare anomaly, which was first described by M. Columbus in 1559. Four hundred years later the first clinical diagnosis was reported by Ellis et al. The congenital pericardial defect Is usually asymptomatic and Is found Incidentally at thoracotomy and autopsy, but it appears that partial absence of pericardium Is not Innocuous because of sudden death due to herniation of a portion of heart. We experienced congenital left pericardial defect in 20 year old female who was diagnosed as left ventricular aneurysm before operation. This patient complained of dyspnea on exertion and anterior chest discomfortness. Physical examination revealed Grade II pansystolic murmur on the 3rd and 4th intercostal space left sternal border. There were specific abnormal findings on the chest plain film, EKG, ultrasonography, and left ventriculography. On 9th July 1981, an operation was performed and found the left partial pericardial defect through which a large portion of left ventricle was herniated Into left pleural space. The method of operation was removal of adhesion and widening of the pericardial defect to avoid Incarceration. After operation, we observed marked Improvement of symptoms and disappearance of cardiac murmur.