title: General surgical complications following cardiac surgery.
abstract: During the five-year period ending July 1981, 3,200 patients underwent cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass at the Medical College of Virginia. Twenty-five patients (0.8%) experienced general surgical complications. Gastrointestinal bleeding was the most common complication encountered. The overall mortality of 24% compares favorably with other reported series. General surgical complications following cardiac surgery are serious and may be caused by aggravation of pre-existing disease, hypoperfusion, stress, or a combination of all three. Although intensive nonoperative therapy may be effective, early reoperation is recommended when nonoperative measures fail.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000209:etiology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology