Cardiovasc J Afr. 2025 Sep 15;36(3):342-346. doi: 10.5830/CVJA-2025-044. Epub 2025 Sep 12.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study compares posterior pericardiectomy (PP) and posterior pericardial Hemovac drainage (PPHD) in terms of their effects on post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) incidence in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
METHODS: A total of 149 patients (mean age 59.6 ± 7.5 years, 75.8% male) were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups based on the drainage technique. Demographic characteristics, perioperative parameters, and post-operative POAF incidence were analysed.
RESULTS: POAF incidence was 8.9% in the PP group and 5.1% in the PPHD group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.385). The first 24-hour drainage volume was significantly higher in the PPHD group (p = 0.034), whereas left thoracic drainage was more pronounced in the PP group (p < 0.001). Residual pleural effusion was more frequent in the PP group compared to the PPHD group (15.6% vs. 3.4%, p = 0.019).
CONCLUSION: Although the difference in POAF incidence between the two groups was not statistically significant, PPHD demonstrated more effective early drainage and resulted in less residual pleural effusion.
PMID:41739049 | DOI:10.5830/CVJA-2025-044