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. 2023 Aug;37(4):771-779.
doi: 10.1007/s10557-021-07261-4. Epub 2021 Sep 21.

Treatment and Prophylaxis of Post-pericardiotomy Syndrome in Cardiac Surgery Patients: a Systematic Review

Omar Giacinto  1 , Alessandro Minati  2 , Mario Lusini  1 , Francesco Cardetta  1 , Sara Saltarocchi  3 , Mizar D'Abramo  2 , Fabio Miraldi  2 , Massimo Chello  1
Affiliations

Treatment and Prophylaxis of Post-pericardiotomy Syndrome in Cardiac Surgery Patients: a Systematic Review

Omar Giacinto et al. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2023 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: Post-pericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) is a common complication of cardiac surgery. This systematic review aimed to investigate the efficacy of colchicine, indomethacin, and dexamethasone in the treatment and prophylaxis of PPS.

Methods: Literature research was carried out using PubMed. Studies investigating ≥ 10 patients with clinically PPS treated with colchicine, dexamethasone, and indomethacin and compared with placebo were included. Animal or in vitro experiments, studies on < 10 patients, case reports, congress reports, and review articles were excluded. Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB2) was used for the quality assessment of studies.

Results: Seven studies were included. Among studies with postoperative colchicine treatment, two of them demonstrated a significant reduction of PPS. In the single pre-surgery colchicine administration study, a decrease of PPS cases was registered. Indomethacin pre-surgery administration was linked to a reduction of PPS. No significant result emerged with preoperative dexamethasone intake.

Conclusion: Better outcomes have been registered when colchicine and indomethacin were administered as primary prophylactic agents in preventing PPS and PE. Further RCT studies are needed to confirm these results.

Keywords: Colchicine; Dexamethasone; Indomethacin; Post-pericardiotomy syndrome.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flowchart
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Risk of bias RoB2
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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