2005 Volume 55 Issue 3 Pages 257-261
Purpose : The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence, clinical features, treatment and outcome of patients with gastrointestinal complications after cardiovascular surgery in our hospital. Patients and Methods : Between January 1992 to February 2004, 835 patients were operated with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) at Gunma University Hospital. Of these, 12 (1.4%) patients had postoperative gastrointestinal complications. The mean age of 12 patients was 59 years old ranging from 7 to 71. Valve replacements were performed in six patients, CABG in three, and others in three. Results : Gastrointestinal bleeding occurred in seven patients. Six of them recovered with non-surgical procedure, and one died of hemorrhagic shock following an emergency operation. Acute cholecystitis occurred in three patients and all of them were successfully managed by percutenous transhepatic gall bladder drainage (PTGBD). Two patients with gastrointestinal perforation underwent an emergent operation, however, both of them died of sepsis. The total mortality rate of 12 patients was 25%. Conclusion : The occurrence of gastrointestinal complications after cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is low, however, is frequently fatal. Preoperative careful evaluation of patients is required for the postoperative management of those complications.
