March 2005 – Speculation on President Clinton’s complication from heart surgery:
Pleural effusions are common after cardiac surgery, occurring in up to 90 percent of patients following CABG (bypass surgery). Causes range can include congestive heart failure, postcardiac injury syndrome, pericarditis, surgical tissue trauma, or atelectasis. Effusions can occur early (less than 30 days) or late (greater than 30 days). Up to 60 percent of patients have effusions at 30 days after CABG. Effusions large enough for decortication are uncommon, as mentioned above.
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