Mintsa Pericardiotomy

Mints Pericardiotomy: History and Application

Mints pericardiotomy, named after the outstanding Soviet surgeon Vladimir Mikhailovich Mints (1872-1945), is a procedure developed in the field of cardiovascular surgery. This surgical method was developed to treat pathologies of the pericardium, the outer lining of the heart.

Pericardiotomy is an operation in which an incision is made in the pericardium to relieve pressure on the heart and allow it to function normally. The procedure can be performed in either an open or minimally invasive format, depending on the characteristics of the patient and the nature of the disease.

The history of the development of pericardiotomy is associated with the work of Vladimir Mints, who is considered one of the founders of domestic cardiovascular surgery. In his research, Mintz drew attention to problems associated with cardiac obstruction and requiring urgent intervention. He developed the technique of pericardiotomy as one method of relieving this obstruction.

Mintz pericardiotomy has found application in the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases. It can be used in cases where pericardial fluid accumulates in excess, causing compression of the heart and disruption of its function. The procedure may also be used to remove tumors, hemorrhages or scarring that may put pressure on the heart and limit its function.

The advantages of pericardiotomy include rapid access to the pericardium and rapid relief of pressure on the heart. This helps prevent serious complications and helps restore normal blood circulation. In addition, through the use of minimally invasive techniques, the patient's recovery time after surgery can be reduced.

However, like any surgical procedure, pericardiotomy is not without risks. There may be complications such as bleeding, infection, or damage to the heart or other organs. Therefore, it is important that this operation is performed by experienced and qualified surgeons, taking into account all the individual characteristics of the patient.

In conclusion, pericardiotomy is an important surgical procedure used to treat pericardial pathologies. Thanks to the development of Vladimir Mints and his colleagues, this technique has become available to many patients who require cardiac surgery. Combined with modern techniques and approaches, pericardiotomy continues to evolve and play an important role in the field of cardiovascular surgery, saving lives and improving the quality of life of patients.

Pericardial surgery is one of the most dangerous and difficult areas of surgery. Due to the danger of numerous complications, many doctors avoid performing this operation. This is also due to the fact that the exact indications for this intervention are not completely clear. However, in some cases, pericardectomy becomes unavoidable. One of the outstanding doctors dealing with this issue is the Israeli surgeon Wolf Mintz.

In 1936, V. M. Mints expressed the idea of ​​​​the possibility of performing hemipericardectomy for hemopericardosis in order to prevent the development of cardiac perforation. He first performed this operation in 1928 on the corpse of a two-month-old child who had suffered birth injuries. In 1978 he was awarded the State Prize of the Ukrainian SSR for the monograph “Diseases and Injuries of the Diaphragm” (1967).