postpericardiotomy syndrome /pōst′perikär′dē·ot″əmē/ [L, post + Gk, peri, around, kardia, heart, temnein, to cut] , a condition that sometimes occurs days or weeks after pericardiotomy, characterized by symptoms of pericarditis, often without any fever. It appears to be an autoimmune response to damaged cells of the myocardium and pericardium. See also pericarditis.
