Objective: Today, despite many recent improvements in intraoperative management and postoperative care, late pericardial effusions remain an important cause of morbidity after cardiac surgery. Because of widespread use of chronic anticoagulation and increased complexity of operations, the incidence of effusion may be higher. Thus we need to update the information on the symptoms, risk factors, diagnostic methods and treatment of Postoperative pericardial effusion syndrome.
Patients and methods: A cross-sectional and prospective study of all patients admitted to hospital because of pericardial effusion after open heart surgery from 1/2010 to 9/2012. Study the clinical characteristics, paraclinicals, evaluate the results of treatment of pericardial effusion after open heart surgery.
Results: Symptoms of pericardial effusion are nonspecific. Some patients with pericardial effusion report minimal problems. In the present study, few patients have the classic presentation of tamponade. Echocardiography is the diagnostic accuracy pericardial effusion after open heart surgery. This treatment mainly is pericardial drainage with 100%.
Conclusion: Pericardial effusion is a common complication after open-heart surgery, symptoms of pericardial effusion are nonspecific to diagnostic method is echocardiographic surveillance.patients can be treated with internal medicine if has no tamponade and less fliuds. Pericardial drainage is absolute only in patients with pericardial effusion with signs of cardiac tamponade or pericardial many of effusion.
