The role of anticoagulation in the development of pericardial effusion and late tamponade after cardiac surgery

Using serial 2-D echocardiography, 141 patients undergoing surgery for coronary artery bypass (56), valvular (69) or congenital (16) heart disease were studiedpostoperatively. When compared to properly anticoagulated patients, excessively anticoagulated patients had a similar overall incidence of effusion and a similar incidence of small or moderate effusion, but a higher incidence of large effusion (18% vs 44%, P<005) and tamponade (3% vs 27%, P<0025).