In the United States and globally, the number of individuals over the age of 65 years
is increasing dramatically, and older individuals are likely to be affected by atherosclerotic
coronary artery disease and valvular disorders requiring cardiac surgery (
1
). Though cardiac surgery has high surgical complexity and the patient population is
older and has a high comorbidity burden, surgical morbidity and mortality have been
decreasing. Nonetheless, hospital readmissions are still common after cardiac surgery.
In 2010, 18.5% of patients who had a heart valve procedure and 15.1% of patients who
underwent a coronary artery bypass graft in the United States were readmitted within
30 days of the initial hospitalization (
2
). Therefore, it is important that emergency physicians are familiar with potential
postoperative complications associated with cardiac surgery.To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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References
- The epidemiology and economics of cardiothoracic surgery in the elderly.in: Katlic M.R. Cardiothoracic surgery in the elderly. Springer Science Business Media, New York2011: 5-24
- Readmissions to U.S. hospitals by procedure, 2010 (HCUP Statistical Brief #154).Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD2013
- Cannulation of the ascending aorta for cardiopulmonary bypass. Experience with 9,000 cases.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1976; 71: 255-258
- Cardiac and paracardiac masses. Current opinion on diagnostic evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging.Eur Heart J. 1998; 19: 553-563
- A diagnostic approach to mediastinal abnormalities.Radiographics. 2007; 27: 657-671
Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 29, 2014
Accepted:
April 22,
2014
Received in revised form:
January 31,
2014
Received:
September 12,
2013
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
