Abstract

Background: Posterior pericardiotomy has been proposed as a preventive strategy against postoperative pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, data regarding its clinical outcomes and potential associations with postoperative complications remain limited. Objective. To evaluate intraoperative and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing off-pump CABG with concomitant posterior pericardiotomy, and to assess potential associations between perioperative variables and the development of common postoperative complications. Methods. This retrospective study included 38 patients who underwent off-pump CABG with posterior pericardiotomy. Demographic and clinical characteristics, procedural details, postoperative complications, and outcomes were analyzed. Associations between operative time, comorbidities (sex, diabetes mellitus, smoking), and postoperative complications such as atrial fibrillation, pleural and pericardial effusions, and drainage volume were statistically evaluated using chi-square and correlation analysis. Results. The study cohort had a mean age of 66.64 ± 7.28 years, with 68.1% male patients. Arterial hypertension was present in all patients, diabetes mellitus in 44.7%, and prior myocardial infarction in 65.7%. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 42.86 ± 10.21%, and triple-vessel disease was observed in 63.2% of patients. All patients underwent off-pump CABG. The mean operative time was 254.31 ± 59.04 minutes. Postoperative complications included new-onset atrial fibrillation in 15.7% of patients, pleural effusion in 42.1%, and pericardial effusion in 10.5%. No cases of cardiac tamponade were reported. A significant association was found between smoking and new-onset atrial fibrillation (p = 0.050), while no significant associations were observed between sex or diabetes and postoperative complications. Operative time was not significantly associated with pericardial or pleural effusion, nor with drainage volume. Complete recovery was observed in all 100.0% of patients. Conclusion. Posterior pericardiotomy performed during off-pump CABG was associated with a low incidence of pericardial effusion and no occurrence of cardiac tamponade. The procedure appears to be safe and may contribute to favorable postoperative outcomes. Smoking may be a risk factor for new-onset atrial fibrillation, warranting further investigation.

Key words: posterior pericardiotomy; coronary artery bypass grafting; postoperative complications; atrial fibrillation; pericardial effusion