The preventive role of the posterior pericardial window in the development of late cardiac tamponade following heart valve surgery

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: It is reported that creating a window from the posterior pericardium into the left pleural cavity during coronary bypass surgeries reduces postoperative late cardiac tamponades. Although late tamponades are more common after heart valve surgeries, this procedure is not generally performed. The present study investigated whether creating a window has a preventive effect on the formation of late cardiac tamponade after heart valve surgeries.

METHODS: The study was conducted on all patients (n = 262) in whom one or more valves were replaced and who fulfilled the study criteria between January 2010 and October 2014 in one centre. We began to create a posterior pericardial window in all valvular patients from March 2012. One hundred and thirty-five patients operated on before this date (Non-Window Group) and 127 patients after this date (Window Group) were compared for the development of late cardiac tamponade.

RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups in terms of preoperative and intraoperative characteristics. Late pericardial tamponade was not observed in any patients from the Window Group, whereas it occurred in 7 (5.2%) patients from the Non-Window Group (P = 0.015). Three patients died in total; all 3 were from the Non-Window Group. One of the mortalities was associated with tamponade.

CONCLUSIONS: Creating a pericardial window may reduce late cardiac tamponade events/episodes, which may be a fatal complication in valve patients. We recommend performing this procedure by allocating some time during the surgical procedure in order to avoid tamponade.