Colchicine for Post-Operative Pericardial Effusion: Preliminary Results of the POPE-2 Study

The incidence of pericardial effusion is high after cardiac surgery. It peaks at the end of the first post-operative week and usually decreases spontaneously. Tamponade occurs in 1% to 2% of patients. Early tamponade (occurring during the first 7 post-operative days) is due to surgical bleeding.