Gastrointestinal complications following cardiac surgery. An analysis of 1477 cardiac surgery patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine preoperative and perioperative risk factors for gastrointestinal (GI) complications following cardiac surgery.


METHODS
A database including records of patients who underwent cardiac surgery was reviewed, with univariate analysis of several variables thought to be relevant to GI complications. Using a risk-adjusted model, preoperative stratification was used to fit a logistic regression model including operative features.


METHODS
All patients undergoing cardiac surgery from January 1, 1991, to December 31, 1994, at a university-affiliated teaching hospital.


METHODS
Incidence of GI complications, postoperative mortality, length of hospital stay, and relative risk of GI complications based on multivariate analyses.


RESULTS
Gastrointestinal complications occurred in 2.1% of patients and had an associated mortality of 19.4%; this was higher than the mortality in patients without GI complications (4.1%; P < .001). Length of hospital stay was significantly longer in patients with GI complications (43 vs 13.4 days; P < .001). In patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting only, cardiopulmonary bypass time was significantly longer in patients with GI complications (166 vs 138 minutes; P = .004). In patients who underwent valve replacement, bypass time was not associated with GI complications. Use of a left internal mammary artery graft was associated with a lower incidence of GI complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who have GI complications after cardiac surgery have a higher mortality and a longer hospital stay. The use of a left internal mammary artery seems to have a protective effect against GI complications. Based on these observations, patients may be stratified into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups.
Perugini
R A
RA
Department of Surgery, Fallon Healthcare System, Worcester, USA.
Orr
R K
RK
Porter
D
D
Dumas
E M
EM
Maini
B S
BS
D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization; D012307:Risk Factors