Postpericardiotomy syndrome
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| Fibrinous pericarditis: Gross, natural color, excellent external view of typical fibrinous pericarditis (After mitral valve replacement). Image courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Synonyms and Related Keywords: Postcommissurotomy syndrome
Overview
The postpericardiotomy syndrome is inflammation of the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart) following cardiac surgery. Symptoms can occur from days to weeks after the operation. Colchicine is safe and effective in the treatment and prevention of pericarditis and preliminary data have shown that it may be effective also in the primary prevention of the postpericardiotomy syndrome.
Epidemiology and Demographics
Pathophysiology
It has been postulated that the syndrome is an autoimmune response to pericardial and/or pleural bleeding or surgical trauma.
Conditions that Postpericardiotomy Syndrome should be Distinguished From
Postpericardiotomy syndrome should be distinguished from Dressler's syndrome which is an autoimmune process that occurs 2-10 weeks following ST elevation MI [1]. This differentiates Dressler's syndrome from the much more common post myocardial infarction pericarditis that occurs in 17 to 25% of cases of acute myocardial infarction and occurs between days 2 and 4 after the infarction. Postpericardiotomy syndrome also needs to be differentiated from pulmonary embolism, another identifiable cause of pleuritic (and non-pleuritic) chest pain in people who have been hospitalized and/or undergone surgical procedures within the preceding weeks.
Causes
- Pericardial and/or pleural bleeding
- Surgical trauma
- Postpericardiotomy syndrome can be an unusual complication after percutaneous coronary intervention such as stent implantation or after implantation of epicardial pacemaker leads and transvenous pacemaker leads, following blunt trauma, stab wounds, and heart puncture. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]
Diagnosis
Symptoms
Symptoms usually become manifest several weeks after a major cardiac operation and may include:
- Anorexia
- Chest pain
- Fever
- Irritability
- Joint pain
- Malaise
- Muscle pain
- Palpitation
- Shortness of breath
Physical Examination
Vital signs
Cardiac
Pericardial friction rub, Enlarged heart
Lungs
Signs of a pleural effusion may be present
Laboratory Studies
Complications
Treatment
- Bed rest
- NSAIDs
References
- ↑ Krainin F, Flessas A, Spodick D (1984). "Infarction-associated pericarditis. Rarity of diagnostic electrocardiogram". N Engl J Med. 311 (19): 1211–4. PMID 6493274.
- ↑ Gungor B, Ucer E, Erdinler IC. Uncommon presentation of postcardiac injury syndrome: Acute pericarditis after percutaneous coronary intervention. Int J Cardiol. Aug 14 2007
- ↑ Peters RW, Scheinman MM, Raskin S, Thomas AN. Unusual complications of epicardial pacemakers. Recurrent pericarditis, cardiac tamponade and pericardial constriction. Am J Cardiol. May 1980;45(5):1088-94.
- ↑ Vinit J, Sagnol P, Buttard P, Laurent G, Wolf JE, Dellinger A. Recurrent delayed pericarditis after pacemaker implantation: a post-pericardiotomy-like syndrome?. Rev Med Interne. Feb 2007;28(2):137-40.
- ↑ Zeltser I, Rhodes LA, Tanel RE, Vetter VL, Gaynor JW, Spray TL. Postpericardiotomy syndrome after permanent pacemaker implantation in children and young adults. Ann Thorac Surg. Nov 2004;78(5):1684-7.
- ↑ Sasaki A, Kobayashi H, Okubo T, Namatame Y, Yamashina A. Repeated postpericardiotomy syndrome following a temporary transvenous pacemaker insertion, a permanent transvenous pacemaker insertion and surgical pericardiotomy. Jpn Circ J. Apr 2001;65(4):343-4.
- ↑ Goutal H, Baur F, Bonnevie L, Monnier G, Le Blainvaux M, Brion R. Postpericardiotomy syndrome; a rare complication of transcavitary cardiac pacing: apropos of a case. Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss. Dec 1995;88(12):1901-3.
- ↑ Hargreaves M, Bashir Y. Postcardiotomy syndrome following transvenous pacemaker insertion. Eur Heart J. Jul 1994;15(7):1005-7.
- ↑ Goodkind MJ, Bloomer WE, Goodyer AV. Recurrent pericardial effusion after nonpenetrating chest trauma: report of two cases treated with adrenocortical steroids. N Engl J Med. Nov 3 1960;263:874-81.
- ↑ Tabatznik B, Isaacs JP. Postpericardiotomy syndrome following traumatic hemopericardium. Am J Cardiol. Jan 1961;7:83-96.
- ↑ Peter RH, Whalen RE, Orgain ES, McIntosh HD. Postpericardiotomy syndrome as a complication of percutaneous left ventricular puncture. Am J Cardiol. Jan 1966;17(1):86-90.