Pericardial Window for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Pericarditis

A 58-year-old man presented with tamponade and underwent an emergency pericardiocentesis. We made the diagnosis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pericarditis based on culture results and treated the patient with pericardial drainage and antibiotics as the first-line therapy. After temporary relief, reaccumulation of effusion developed. We successfully created a pericardial window using thoracotomy, and the patient's postoperative course was uneventful. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pericarditis is an extremely rare and life-threatening illness. No consensus exists concerning the ideal surgical intervention. Creating a pericardial window using thoracotomy can be an effective definitive therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pericarditis, especially for patients with significant pericardial adhesions. (C) 2019 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons