Abstract

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is one of the most performed surgical procedures in the world. A common complication of CABG is pleural effusion, the majority of which are small and rarely require drainage by thoracentesis. We present a patient who developed multiple recurrent large pleural effusions at 4, 6, and 8 weeks post-CABG requiring thoracentesis.

Although small pleural effusions are a common complication after a CABG, most patients show complete resolution within 90 days after surgery. Recurrent large effusions requiring multiple drainage procedures have significantly increased mortality and complication rates.

Additionally, our patient also developed Re-Expansion Pulmonary Edema (REPE) as a consequence of undergoing large volume thoracenteses. This is a rare complication that occurs due to rapid expansion of a chronically collapsed lung.

It is essential to recognize the signs and symptoms of large pleural effusions in post-CABG patients early on to prevent complications such as increased mortality rates, longer length of stay, and increased complication rates. More studies are necessary to investigate optimal treatments for recurrent large pleural effusions in post-CABG patients.