Neighbours affect each other; pulmonary affection after cardiac surgery

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Lungs and heart are in close relation all the time; they affect each other. Pulmonary complications due to cardiac surgeries may alter the surgery outcome and patient survival. Aim The aim of this study was to report the most frequent respiratory complications after cardiac surgeries. Materials and methods The study included 22 patients (group 1) who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and 56 patients (group 2) who underwent valve replacement surgery. Preoperative and postoperative investigations such as chest radiology, spirometric lung functions and PaO2/FiO2 were performed. Pleural effusion, pneumothorax, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, atelectasis, wound infection or sternal dehiscence were reported. Results Pleural effusion, pneumothorax, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, atelectasis, and sternal wound infection in group 1 were found among 81.81, 4.55, 9.10, 31.82, 86.36 and 18.18% of the included patients, respectively, whereas in group 2 they were found among 33.93, 0, 0, 35.71, 64.29 and 10.71%, respectively. Conclusion Complications after cardiac surgeries are common and precautions must be taken to decrease them and to improve outcome.