Circulation, Vol 69, 506-511, Copyright © 1984 by American Heart Association
LB Weitzman, WP Tinker, I Kronzon, ML Cohen, E Glassman and FC Spencer
One hundred twenty-two consecutive patients (104 men; 18 women) were
studied to determine the incidence and natural history of pericardial
effusion occurring 2, 5, 10, and 20 to 50 days after cardiac surgery. Three
patients had pericardial effusions before and 103 patients (91 men; three
women) had effusions after surgery. Effusions were first recorded on the
second postoperative day in 72 patients, on the fifth postoperative day in
29 patients, and on the tenth postoperative day in two patients. In 96 of
these patients, effusions reached their maximum size by postoperative day
10. Of the 103 patients with effusions, 66 (64%) were followed to complete
resolution. A specific pattern was observed in most resolving effusions.
The echo-free space diagnostic of pericardial effusion became progressively
more echo-dense as the effusion diminished in size. As the effusion became
echo-dense, the posterior pericardium, which had been motionless, resumed
its normal systolic anterior motion. One patient developed cardiac
tamponade on postoperative day 3. We conclude that pericardial effusion
occurs frequently after cardiac surgery, but that associated complications
are rare.
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The incidence and natural history of pericardial effusion after cardiac surgery--an echocardiographic study
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