Impact of posterior pericardial drain and risk factors on late pericardial effusion after coronary artery bypass surgery

Background The blood retained in posterior pericardium can trigger an inflammatory response that increases postoperative atrial fibrillations (POAFs), and it can complicate postoperative course. We retrospectively investigated the impact of a posterior pericardial drain (PPD) in reducing late postoperative pericardial effusion (pPE) and POAFs during the first 30 postoperative days. Methods Two hundred and fifty coronary artery bypass grafting patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of a PPD in addition to the anterior one. Perioperative data and the incidence of POAF were compared. Risk factor analysis was used to determine the predictors of pPE and postpericardiotomy syndrome. Results Late pPE was present in 16% of all patients. It proved to be much more frequent in patients with a posterior drain (odds ratio 2.58; 95% confidence interval 1.23–5.79; P = 0.015) where it seemed to be almost mild and anterior. ‘Anterior Drain’ patients showed an increased rate of moderate (P 
Source: Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine - Category: Cardiology Tags: Research articles: Cardiac surgery Source Type: research