title: Rupture of the inferior vena cava during open-heart surgery. Aetiology and surgical management.
abstract: Bleeding during open-heart surgery is a not unusual complication. Rupture of the inferior vena cava during dissection of the heart from adhesions from a previous operation for mitral disease or congenital palliative surgery is a serious and sometimes fatal complication. Its treatment is a challenge even to the most experienced heart surgeon. In two of our three patients, vena cava rupture occurred during open-heart surgery for correction of mitral and aortic valvular disease. In one patient, congenital infundibular stricture of the right ventricle, associated with tricuspid valve insufficiency, was present. In this report, some relevant data were presented from each case and the aetiology of the rupture is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012421:Rupture; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery