Colchicine for postoperative pericardial effusion: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Pericardial effusion is a common complication following cardiac surgery.
• Colchicine is recognized for treating acute pericarditis, but its postoperative efficacy is unproven.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of colchicine in reducing pericardial effusion volume post-cardiac surgery.
• To evaluate colchicine's effect on preventing late cardiac tamponade.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 197 high-risk patients.
• Patients received either 1 mg of colchicine daily or a placebo for 14 days.
• Primary endpoint was the change in pericardial effusion grade; secondary endpoint was cardiac tamponade frequency.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in the mean decrease of pericardial effusion grade between the colchicine and placebo groups (-1.3 vs -1.1 grades).
• Cardiac tamponade occurred in 7 placebo patients and 6 colchicine patients (p=0.80).
• No significant difference in drainage procedures at 6-month follow-up (14 placebo vs 8 colchicine).

Conclusions:

• Colchicine administration is ineffective in reducing pericardial effusion volume after cardiac surgery.
• Colchicine does not prevent the occurrence of late cardiac tamponade in this patient population.