Postoperative pericardial effusion, pericardiotomy, and atrial fibrillation: An explanatory analysis of the PALACS trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the Posterior left pericardiotomy for the prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery (PALACS) trial, posterior pericardiotomy was associated with a significant reduction in postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery. We aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying this effect.

Methods

We included PALACS patients with available echocardiographic data (n = 387/420, 92%). We tested the hypotheses that the reduction in POAF with the intervention was associated with 1) a reduction in postoperative pericardial effusion and/or 2) an effect on left atrial size and function. Spline and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used.

Results

Most patients (n = 307, 79%) had postoperative pericardial effusions (anterior 68%,

SUBMITTER: Rong LQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10164079 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature