Posterior left pericardiotomy in cardiac surgery and outcomes: PALACS-EF trial extended follow-up
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In the Posterior left pericardiotomy for the prevention of AtriaL fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery (PALACS) trial, posterior left pericardiotomy significantly reduced the incidence of in-hospital postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) and pericardial effusion compared with no intervention.1,2 The Effect of Posterior Pericardiotomy on the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery–Extended Follow-Up (PALACS-EF) study evaluates the long-term clinical effects of posterior left pericardiotomy in cardiac surgery patients.3 The PALACS was a randomized clinical trial that assigned patients undergoing cardiac surgery to either posterior left pericardiotomy or no intervention.1,3 The PALACS-EF study was a prospective, extended follow-up including all 420 patients enrolled in the PALACS trial.3 Patients were contacted by blinded research personnel using standardized script. The primary outcome was time to first occurrence of the composite of all-cause mortality or hospital readmission for cardiovascular causes from time of intervention. The key secondary outcome was the time to first occurrence of the composite of all-cause mortality and all-cause hospital readmission from time of intervention. Other secondary outcomes included myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accidents, heart failure, and new arrhythmias with onset after 30 days. All outcome events were adjudicated by an independent, blinded committee of two cardiologists and a cardiac surgeon.
Source: European Heart Journal
Authors: Mario Gaudino, Lamia Harik, Bjorn Redfors, Jordan Leith, Alexander C Gregg, Jessica Kim, Rachel Heise, Lisa Q Rong, Sigrid Sandner, Antonino Di Franco, Charles A Mack, Christopher Lau, Tommaso Sanna, Giovanni J Soletti, Jonathan W Weinsaft, Gianni D Angelini, John H Alexander, Leonard N Girardi
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4410622708