Immediate Hemodynamic Effects of Pericardial Closure After Open-Heart Surgery

Abstract
Acute hemodynamic effects of a routine pericardial closure after cardiopulmonary bypass was studied in 29 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Clinically, the pericardial closure was well tolerated. Pericardial closure resulted in an 8% decrease of cardiac output (p2±0.6 SD). The effect of the pericardium on pulmonary arterial and wedge pressures, and on systemic arterial pressure was not significant. Central venous pressure increased from 8±2 mmHg to 9±3 mmHg (pppp<0.01) after re-opening of the pericardiotomy incision. The hemodynamic effects of pericardial closure seem to result from limited ventricular filling.