Heart valve reoperations can be performed with an acceptable operative mortality. However, we have identified several categories of patients in whom reoperation carries an increased risk.

Simultaneous pulmonary resection and cardiac surgery is associated with acceptable operative morbidity and mortality. In patients with lung carcinoma long-term survival was determined by tumour stage. The avoidance of CPB may be advantageous by decreasing blood loss and ventilation requirements.

Cardiac surgery using CPB leads to changes in plasma and urinary cytokine homeostasis that correlate with renal proximal tubular dysfunction. This dysfunction may be related to the renal filtration of proinflammatory mediators. Renal autoprotective mechanisms may involve the intrarenal generation of antiinflammatory cytokines.

No abstract