Pericardial Disease (Pericarditis) – when is surgery necessary?

Pericarditis treatment can be very challenging, however, the approach to surgical treatment has changed over the years with advances in imaging and earlier diagnosis. Dr. Doug Johnston, Vice Chairman of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and Surgical Director of the Pericardial Disease Center, talks about pericarditis (including recurring pericarditis, constrictive pericarditis), what it is, and when someone may need surgery to treat it. Dr. Johnston talks about what surgery involves, why Cleveland Clinic takes this approach and what recovery looks like.