A clinical case of pericarditis in a child after surgical correction of congenital heart defect

Surgical correction of congenital heart defects (CHD) is an important step in the child’s recovery, but after discharge from the hospital, there remains a risk of developing a number of postoperative complications that require timely diagnosis, multicomponent therapy, and sometimes repeated surgery.The article demonstrates a clinical observation of pericarditis in a child after surgical correction of a congenital heart defect. At the age of five months, the child was diagnosed with the following pathology according to echocardiography: Congenital heart defect: Secondary atrial septal defect. HF 1B st. At the age of 9 months, the child underwent plastic surgery of the atrial septal defect. After discharge from the cardiac surgery hospital, the child was transferred to the pediatric department of the State Budgetary Healthcare Institution of the Arkhangelsk Region “Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital named after N.N. Silishcheva”. In a hospital setting, in addition to a regular clinical examination, clinical and biochemical tests, electrocardiography, echocardiography with Doppler cardiography, and X-ray examination were performed. Despite the full range of medical care provided, the child began to show signs of complications after the correction of congenital heart disease. According to the blood test, inflammation markers were verified, namely, leukocytosis, increased ESR and increased CRP. Echocardiography revealed fluid in the pericardial space. Against the background of the therapy, a positive effect was obtained, confirmed by EchoCG data – separation of pericardial leaflets up to 2 mm. Observation in a hospital setting allowed for timely diagnosis and treatment of postoperative complications. Thus, physicians of many specialties need to be aware of the risks of developing a number of postoperative complications after cardiac surgery and promptly prescribe diagnostic measures to patients to verify the diagnosis, taking into account the stages of pericarditis development.

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