Objective: Obese patients are usually thought to have an increased risk for complications in coronary artery bypass surgery. Methods: Therefore, the data of 500 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting at our department in 1998 by use of cardiopulmonary bypass were analyzed. Severe obesity was de®ned as body mass index (BMI) $ 30:0 kg/m 2 . Obese patients (n 100; group O) were compared to the remaining 400 patients (group C). Both groups were comparable with respect to sex, history of prior myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, previous stroke, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamp time and number of distal anastomoses performed. Obese patients were slightly younger and diabetes and hypertension were more common in these patients. Results: Survival and potential complications including perioperative myocardial infarction, sternal wound infection, wound infection at the leg, renal failure, stroke, prolonged mechanical ventilation, pneumonia, reexploration for bleeding, and atrial arrhythmias were analyzed. No signi®cant differences between obese and non-obese patients were detected. Conclusion: Severe obesity does not necessarily adversely affect perioperative mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in this study. q

No abstract

This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.Page 1 of 29A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t

No abstract

No abstract