Postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) is an immune phenomenon that occurs days to months (usually 1–6 weeks[1]) after surgical incision of the pericardium (membranes encapsulating the human heart).

If left untreated, severe decrease in cardiac output, vascular collapse, and hypoperfusion of body including the brain results in death.

Auscultation of the lungs can show crackles indicating pulmonary infiltration, and there can be retrosternal/pleuritic chest pain worse on inspiration (breathing in).

[5] Although no current drug on the market prevents post-pericardiotomy syndrome, colchicine seems to provide an effective and safe way to treat pericarditis by reducing inflammation.

[7] Therefore, any process involving cytoskeleton change, including mitosis and motility of white blood cells, is highly impacted.

[7] In addition, colchicine prevents the movement and secretion of intercellular granules, substances, proinflammatory enzymes from neutrophils, thus making a significant impact on inflammatory processes within the body.

[6] The high concentration of colchicine in neutrophils, sixteen times greater compared the plasma levels, can account for the positive therapeutic effects.

[citation needed] There was great hope that colchicine could be a primary preventive measure in treating post-pericardiotomy syndrome due to its anti-inflammatory effects.