# Efficacy of Jackson-Pratt Mediastinal Drains in Reducing Pericardial Effusion and Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Retrospective Cohort Study

## TL;DR

Using Jackson-Pratt drains with standard chest tubes after heart surgery reduced complications like fluid buildup and atrial fibrillation.

## Contribution

Demonstrates that adding Jackson-Pratt drains to standard care improves post-CABG outcomes.

## Key findings

- JP-D group had lower rates of cardiac tamponade, reoperation, and wound infections.
- Postoperative atrial fibrillation and 30-day mortality were significantly reduced with JP-D.
- Pulmonary complications like atelectasis and pneumonia were also reduced in the JP-D group.

## Abstract

Postoperative complications such as pericardial and pleural effusions,
cardiac tamponade, and atrial fibrillation (AF) are common after coronary
artery bypass grafting (CABG). While standard chest tubes are routinely used
for drainage, Jackson-Pratt drains (JP-D) may offer advantages due to their
flexible design and ability to maintain negative pressure.

This retrospective study compared outcomes between patients who received
conventional chest tubes drains (CT-D group) (n = 672; 2016 - 2020) and
those who received JP-D in addition to standard drains (JP-D group, n = 706;
2020 - 2023) after CABG. Demographic, operative, and postoperative data were
collected and analyzed.

Both groups were similar in baseline characteristics (P > 0.05 for all).
The JP-D group had significantly lower rates of cardiac tamponade (0.28% vs.
1.78%, P = 0.008), reoperation (1.55% vs. 4.61%, P = 0.001), wound
infections (2.1% vs. 4.1%, P = 0.024), 30-day mortality (1.1% vs. 2.0%, P =
0.035), and postoperative AF (9.2% vs. 16.8%, P = 0.039). Despite a higher
first-day drainage volume (480 ± 150 mL vs. 360 ± 120 mL, P =
0.030), total drainage volume was similar. Pulmonary complications,
including atelectasis and pneumonia, were also significantly reduced in the
JP-D group.

The use of JP-D in conjunction with standard thoracic drainage after CABG was
associated with improved postoperative outcomes, including reduced
effusion-related complications and AF. These findings suggest potential
benefits of JP-D in cardiac surgery, though prospective studies are
warranted to confirm these results.