Decortication of the heart for staphylococcal pericarditis.

A case of acute staphylococcal pericarditis with constriction of the heart is reported. The response to antibiotics and simple pericardial drainage was poor. Pericardiectomy and decortication of the heart was performed on a moribund patient. Marked improvement followed surgery combined with intensive antibiotic therapy. At follow-up eight months later, the patient was a normal active 6-year-old boy.