title: Cholesterol crystal embolization after cardiac operations. Report of two cases.
abstract: We report two cases of systemic cholesterol embolization after coronary bypass surgery under extracorporeal circulation. First clinical symptoms starting at 48-72 h after cardiac operation were severe abdominal pain and elevated ischemia associated blood parameters. In both patients a laparotomy was performed but fatal outcome due to multi-organ failure could not be avoided. The awareness of this often fatal complication is of great importance for the surgeon since prevention is the only effective treatment.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Universitätsklinikum RWTH, Aachen, Germany. jvasquez-jimenez@post.klinikum.rwth-aachen.de
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Vazquez-Jimenez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Bouza
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Liakopoulos
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Messmer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D017700:Embolism, Cholesterol / Q000473:pathology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation