Should the pericardium be closed in patients undergoing cardiac surgery?
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Report By: Mohamed N. Bittar, James B. Barnard, Noman Khasati, and Steven Richardson - Registrars in Cardiothoracic Surgery
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Search checked by Joel Dunning - Section Editor ICVTS
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Institution: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wythenshawe Hospital
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Date Submitted: 3rd May 2005
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Date Completed: 13th May 2005
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Last Modified: 13th May 2005
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Status:
Green (complete)
Three Part Question
In [patients undergoing cardiac surgery] does [pericardial closure] affect [outcome]?Clinical Scenario
You have been trained to leave the pericardium open after a routine cardiac surgery procedure because in the early postoperative period the patient's haemodynamic performance is better and there is less incidence of graft failure. In addition there is also said to be a reduced incidence of cardiac tamponade. You begin to question this teaching, especially in view of the benefit of a closed pericardium when it comes to re-do surgery. You decide to scrutinise the published literature with regard to the pitfalls of closing the pericardium.
Search Strategy
Medline 1966–Nov 2004 using the OVID interface
