Incidental finding of tuberculous pleural effusion in patient undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: Case report

Pleural effusion is common in patient with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) usually due to heart failure in preoperative and trauma of surgery in postoperative patient. Tuberculous Pleural effusion is most common form of extra pulmonary Tuberculosis. Preoperatively Tuberculous pleural effusion in CABG patients has rarely been described in literature.

A 62 years old gentleman with ischemic heart disease was admitted for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Preoperative workup showed left sided pleural. Intraoperatively left sided turbid yellowish colour effusion with loculation was noted while harvesting left internal mammary artery. Loculation were broken down, effusion was drained and tissues were sent for microbiology and histopathology. CABG was performed smoothly. Microbiology of pleural tissue revealed Mycobacterium tuberculosis while histopathology showed chronic granulomatous inflammation. Patient was started on antituberculous therapy and remained well six months postoperatively.

In developing countries even without any constitutional symptoms of Tuberculosis high index of suspicion for Tuberculosis should be made for patient with pleural effusion especially in cases of cardiac surgery as to prevent morbidity and mortality.