Delayed Pericardial Effusion Following Heart Valve Surgery: Aspect of Pleuropericardial Window for Prevention

Authors

  • Suthep Taksinachanekij Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Queen Sirikit Heart Center of the Northeast, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
  • Cherdchai Tantisirin Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Queen Sirikit Heart Center of the Northeast, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
  • Sompop Prathanee Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Queen Sirikit Heart Center of the Northeast, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
  • Teerasak Srichalerm Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Queen Sirikit Heart Center of the Northeast, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand

Keywords:

cardiac tamponade, pericardial effusion, pleuropericardial window, heart valve surgery

Abstract

Background: Delayed pericardial effusion is common after open heart surgery for valvular heart
diseases. In particular, cases with cardiac tamponade are associated with significant morbidity and mortality.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether intra-operative pleuropericardial
window of the right pleural cavity could prevent delayed pericardial effusion in patients undergoing conventional
valve surgery.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of 205 consecutive patients undergoing valve surgery and survived
during August 2006 to February 2007 at our institution was performed. The patients were divided into two
groups: group I consisted of 105 patients who underwent conventional valve surgery alone and group II
consisted of 100 patients who underwent conventional valve surgery plus intra-operative pleuropericardial
window of the right pleural cavity for prevention of delayed pericardial effusion. Patients with clinical suspicion
of delayed pericardial effusion were evaluated by transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography in the
first to tenth postoperative week. Other clinical parameters were also analyzed. Differences between groups
were demonstrated using the two-sample test of proportion (Z-test) for statistical analysis.
Results: Delayed pericardial effusion was significantly more common in patients undergoing conventional
valve surgery alone, as compared to conventional valve surgery plus intra-operative pleuropericardial window
(11 patients versus 3 patients, p <0.05).
Conclusions: Delayed pericardial effusion was more common in patients undergoing conventional valve
surgery alone, as opposed to conventional valve surgery plus intra-operative pleuropericardial window of the
right pleural cavity. Thus the intra-operative pleuropericardial window should be performed as an additional
procedure for prevention of delayed pericardial effusion following valve surgery.

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Published

2009-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Taksinachanekij S, Tantisirin C, Prathanee S, Srichalerm T. Delayed Pericardial Effusion Following Heart Valve Surgery: Aspect of Pleuropericardial Window for Prevention. Thai J Surg [Internet]. 2009 Jun. 30 [cited 2024 Dec. 23];30(1-2). Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ThaiJSurg/article/view/227740

Issue

Vol. 30 No. 1-2 (2009): January - June

Section

Original Articles

License

Articles must be contributed solely to The Thai Journal of Surgery and when published become the property of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand. The Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand reserves copyright on all published materials and such materials may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission.