Congenital Absence of the Pericardium: Pearls and Pitfalls

The pericardium normally provides structural support, motion lubrication, mechanical and barrier protection to the heart, separating it from the mediastinum and lungs.1,2 Functionally, the pericardium maintains the cardiac shape and position in the chest, prevents overdistension of the chambers and excess motion and is thought to help synchronize ventricular function. There are two layers of pericardium outer fibrous parietal pericardium is thicker and attaches to surrounding mediastinal structures with ligamentous attach