title: Gastrointestinal complications following cardiac surgery.
abstract: This study sought to determine which factors influence the mortality rate in patients developing gastrointestinal complications following cardiac surgery. Between July 1988 and January 1992, 2054 patients underwent cardiac surgical procedures at the Boston University Medical Center. Of these, 29 (1.4%) developed postoperative gastrointestinal complications. The overall mortality rate among these patients was 27% (8/29). Those who died following such complications had a higher incidence of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV and unstable symptoms (8/8, 100% versus 3/21, 14%; P < 0.0001), and an increased need for preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump support (4/8, 50% versus 1/21, 5%; P < 0.004). The need for gastrointestinal surgical intervention increased the mortality rate significantly compared with patients managed medically (8/18, 44% versus 0/11, 0%; P < 0.01). Patients with ischemic bowel also had a significantly higher mortality (5/5, 100% versus 3/24, 12%; P < 0.001). It is concluded that most patients with gastrointestinal complications following cardiac surgery can be treated, and with acceptable mortality rates. The presence of unstable symptoms, preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump support, ischemic bowel and the need for gastrointestinal surgical intervention adversely affect mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Boston University Medical Center, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lazar
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fonger
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Birkett
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Aldea
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shemin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping; D007511:Ischemia / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D010439:Peptic Ulcer Perforation / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate