NCT02875405

The Effect of Posterior Pericardiotomy on the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 420 (actual)
• Sponsor: Weill Medical College of Cornell University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if preforming a posterior left pericardiotomy prevents atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.

Detailed description

Post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication of cardiac surgery which is observed in 30-40% of patients. POAF may cause stroke, systemic embolism or cardiac failure and Its detection mandates for additional treatment with variable combinations of drugs to control cardiac rate or rhythm, anticoagulation, and electrical cardioversion, with their side effects and complications. As a result, POAF prolongs hospital stay and increases the costs of hospitalization. Several strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of POAF have been investigated, including beta-blockers, amiodarone, and statins, with unsatisfactory results. Posterior left pericardiotomy has been associated with a reduction in the incidence of POAF in a few studies. However, these studies are flawed by methodological limitations in terms of sample size, inclusion/exclusion criteria, randomization procedure, and suboptimal electrocardiographic monitoring strategies. Moreover, posterior left pericardiotomy requires additional operative time and is associated with procedure-specific complications. As a result, current evidence on posterior pericardiectomy failed to translate into changes in clinical practice and the incidence of POAF remains high.

Conditions

• Atrial Fibrillation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Posterior left pericardiotomy	Patient will receive a posterior left sided pericardiotomy. The incision will be made posterior to the phrenic nerve and run from the inferior left pulmonary vein to the diaphragm.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-09-20
• Primary completion: 2021-08-10
• Completion: 2021-08-24
• First posted: 2016-08-23
• Last updated: 2021-08-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States