Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery by Posterior Pericardiotomy

The surgeon will perform a posterior pericardiotomy while the patient is on cardiopulmonary bypass. In detail, the surgeon will use cautery to make a 4- to 5-cm opening in pericardium between the left inferior pulmonary vein and the diaphragm. Then a soft channel drain will be placed through the posterior pericardium, the pericardiotomy and into the left pleural space.