Reoperations following cardiac surgery have an increased risk of the danger of damaging the heart, great vessels or extracardiac grafts because of adhesions to the sternum. We experimentally evaluated 3 different methods for pericardial closure. A standardized procedure for induction of pericardial adhesions was carried out in 30 rabbits. For closure of pericardium, animals were divided into 3 groups, 10 animals respectively: Croup 1 [simple pericardial closure]The pericardium was primarily resuture; Group 2 [Core-Tex surgical membrane as a pericardial substitute]- A Gore-Tex surgical membrane was interposed between the sternum and the heart; and Group 3 [pericardial tension releasing technique]-Three longitudinal overlapping incisions were made on the right side of the pericardium while the midline incison was sutured. Animals were put to death 4 weeks postoperatively and the pericardial space was examined for pericardial adhesions and epicardial reactions. The extent of adhesions and reactions were graded as: I-none; II-minimal; III-moderate; and IV-severe. Histologic studies of the pericardium, the pericardial substitute and the epicardium were also performed. The results were as follows: 1. In group 1 [simple pericardial closure], the degree of pericardial adhesions were grade I in 1 animal, grade II in 2, grade III in 4 and grade IV in 3. Epicardial reactions were grade I in 1 animal, grade II in 3, grade III in 5 and grade IV in 1. Histologic examination revealed thick fibrous tissue that obliterated the pericardial space in 7 animals. 2. In group 2 [Gore-Tex surgical membrane as a pericardial substitute], the degree of pericardial adhesions were grade I in 3 animals, grade II in 3, grade III in 2 and grade IV in 2. The degree of epicardial reactions were grade II in 1 animal, grade III in 5 and grade IV in 4. Histologic studies revealed a thin layer of dense fibrous tissue which covered the Gore-Tex surgical membrane and thick loose fibrous tissue on the epicardium just beneath the substitute. 3. In group 3 [pericardial tension releasing technique], the degree of pericardial adhesions were grade I in 3 animals, grade II in 4, grade III in 2 and grade IV in 1. The degree of epicardial reactions were grade 1 in 4 animals, grade II in 4 and grade III in 2. Severe epicardial reactions were not observed in this group. Histologic examination showed normal epicardium in 4 animals and the epicardium of the other 6 animals only revealed very thin fibrous layer compared to group I and group II. Pericardial adhesions more than grade III were 70% in group 1, 40% in group 2 and 30% in group 3. Pericardial adhesions were reduced in group 2 and group 3 compared to group 1, but statistically not significant. Epicardial reactions more than grade III were 60% in group 1, 90% in group 2 and 20% in group 3. Epicardial reactions were significantly reduced in group 3 compared to group 2. Author`s modified pericardial releasing technique provides marked augment of pericardial surface area and facilitates tension-free pericardial closure. Furthermore, pericardial adhesion and epicardial reaction will be reduced with the pericardial tension releasing technique.