Right Pleuro-Pericardial Window During Cardiac Surgery: A Safe and Simple Technique That Decreases Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication following cardiac surgery. One of the major factors predisposing to the development of POAF is inflammation related to pericardial effusions, which may occur after cardiac surgery. A study of 172 patients was conducted; the first 95 patients did not have any pleuropericardial window, whereas the remaining 77 patients did. A multivariate analysis showed that the risk of POAF was significantly lower in patients who underwent a pleuropericardial window compared to those who did not (odds ratio:0.46, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] 0.24-0.87, p=0.019). Therefore, creating a right pleuropericardial window during cardiac surgery decreases the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation.