title: Role of diclofenac in the prevention of postpericardiotomy syndrome after cardiac surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS), which is thought to be related to autoimmune phenomena, represents a common postoperative complication in cardiac surgery. Late pericardial effusions after cardiac surgery are usually related to PPS and can progress to cardiac tamponade. Preventive measures can reduce postoperative morbidity and mortality related to PPS. In a previous study, diclofenac was suggested to ameliorate autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to determine whether postoperative use of diclofenac is effective in preventing early PPS after cardiac surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 100 patients who were administered oral diclofenac for postoperative analgesia after cardiac surgery and until hospital discharge were included in this retrospective study. As well, 100 patients undergoing cardiac surgery who were not administered nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were included as the control group. The existence and severity of pericardial effusion were determined by echocardiography. The existence and severity of pleural effusion were determined by chest X-ray.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PPS incidence was significantly lower in patients who received diclofenac (20% vs. 43%) (P<0.001). Patients given diclofenac had a significantly lower incidence of pericardial effusion (15% vs. 30%) (P=0.01). Although not statistically significant, pericardial and pleural effusion was more severe in the control group than in the diclofenac group. The mean duration of diclofenac treatment was 5.11±0.47 days in patients with PPS and 5.27±0.61 days in patients who did not have PPS (P=0.07). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that diclofenac administration (odds ratio [OR] 0.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18-0.65, P=0.001) was independently associated with PPS occurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postoperative administration of diclofenac may have a protective role against the development of PPS after cardiac surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Utkan
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sevuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baysal
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Rojhat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Altindag
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Baris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yaylak
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Sahin
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Adiyaman
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurettin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ay
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Vahhac
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alp
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Unal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Beyazit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011185:Postpericardiotomy Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004008:Diclofenac
keywords: cardiac tamponade; pericardial effusion; pleural effusion