Case of diagnosis of late postpericardiotomy syndrome after aortocoronal and mammary coronary bypass

Abstract

Postpericardiotomy syndrome (PCTS) develops after cardiosurgical operations as part of the non-specific systemic inflammatory responses syndrome of the body (SIRS) and manifests signs of general intoxication and symptoms of involvement in the autoimmune inflammatory process of pulmonary pleurae and/or pericardial layer to form efflux in the pleural and/or pericardial cavities. PCTS is not a rare pathological condition and often accompanies heart surgeries, especially those which are carried out under cardiopulmonary bypass. However, it can occur in the guise of lung and pleura diseases, cardiac decompensation and other complications of cardiological diseases and cardiosurgical interventions. In the light of the specificity of the therapy of this syndrome, its correct and timely diagnosis is intended to alleviate the already unsatisfactory condition of the patient who has undergone heart surgery and his postoperative prognosis. Although this pathology was described in the middle of the last century, its methods of treatment are still under discussion, in particular the effectiveness of glucocorticosteroids and colchicine is compared and the use of the latter for the prevention of PCTS is considered. This paper presents the case history of PCTS tolerant to hormone therapy and managed with colchicine.