180 patients with colchicine 0.5 mg twice daily from 48-72 hs. before surgery versus 180 patients to placebo were randomized. The medication was continued for a month. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether colchicine was able to avoid the post-pericardiotomy syndrome.
The post pericardiotomy syndrome occurred in 19.4% of patients in the colchicine group versus 29.4% in the placebo group (p <0.05). However considering separately atrial fibrillation or pericardial effusion no significant differences were observed.
Stavros V. Konstantinides
2014-08-31
Original title: Colchicine for Prevention of the Post-pericardiotomy Syndrome and Post-operative Atrial Fibrillation (COPPS-2 trial).
