POSTERIOR PERICARDIOTOMY REDUCES THE INCIDENCE OF SUPRA-VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS FOLLOWING CORONARY-ARTERY BYPASS-SURGERY

A prospective study of 100 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery was performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of a posterior pericardiotomy in reducing the incidence of pericardial effusions and, consequently, reducing the incidence of supraventricular arrhythmias in the post-operative period. Pericardial effusion occurred in 4 of 50 patients following a posterior pericardiotomy, whereas effusion occur red in 20 of 50 patients in whom a pericardiotomy was not created (P<0 .0005). Supra-ventricular arrhythmias occurred in 4 patients in the pe ricardiotomy group and 18 in the group treated without pericardiotomy (P<0.005). No complications resulted from this procedure. We conclude that pericardiotomy is a simple, safe and effective method for reducin g the incidence or pericardial effusion and thereby post-operative sup ra-ventricular arrhythmias.