Pleural Effusion After Endoscopic-Assisted, Minimally Invasive Off-Pump Bypass Grafting
This retrospective study evaluated the incidence, clinical course, and predictors of postoperative pleural effusion following minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery (Endo-CAB). Pleural effusions were common, occurring in more than 85% of patients, typically developing within the first two postoperative days and resolving spontaneously within three weeks in most cases. Only a minority of patients required intensified diuretic therapy or thoracocentesis. Clinically significant pleural effusions occurred in 15% of patients and were associated with longer hospital stays and higher blood transfusion rates. The findings suggest that postoperative pleural effusion is usually a self-limiting phenomenon after Endo-CAB, while identifying patient and procedural factors that may help predict those at risk for more significant fluid accumulation and intervention.
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