Lack of effect of synthetic pericardial substitute on right ventricular function after corollary artery bypass surgery - An echocardiographic and magnetic resonance imaging study

Abnormal right heart function after cardiac surgery is a well-known finding . Inadequate preservation during the operation and restricted cardiac motio n due to pericardial adhesions have been proposed as underlying mechanisms. This study focuses on the impact of a pericardial substitute implantation on right ventricular function, using echocardiography and magnetic resonanc e imaging. A test group of six patients (mean age 54 years) was examined be fore surgery, and 4-15 days and 5-9 months after coronary artery bypass sur gery, where the pericardium was closed with a biodegradable pericardial pat ch. A group of 11 patients (mean age 63 years) in whom the pericardium was left open served as controls. Tricuspid annulus motion was markedly decreas ed, abnormal septal motion was present and decreased systolic to diastolic ratio in the vena cava superior flow was present in all patients in both gr oups one week after surgery. At the late follow-up, all patients still had decreased tricuspid annulus motion, while 17% of the patients in the test g roup and 22% of the patients in the control group (ns) demonstrated normal septal motion. We conclude that closing the pericardium with a biodegradabl e patch does not affect the postoperative changes in right heart function n ormally seen after open-heart surgery.