Etymed
pericardiectomy
Definition
Surgical removal of the pericardium, the fibrous sac surrounding the heart
Clinical context
A 65-year-old man presents with dyspnea and chest pain. He has a history of multiple cardiac surgeries and now presents with constrictive pericarditis. Echocardiography shows thickened pericardium with restricted diastolic filling. He undergoes pericardiectomy to relieve the constriction and improve cardiac function.
Mnemonic
Pericardiectomy = Pericardium removal, not a heart procedure