INCIDENCE OF COMPLICATIONS AFTER CARDIAC SURGERY, SINGLE UNIT EXPERIENCE

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of complications after cardiac surgery in a single unit. Study Design: This was an observational study. Place and Duration: This study was conducted in the department of Cardiac surgery of Civil Hospital Karachi, Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi, over the period of 1 year. Patients and Methods: This being a prospective, observational study, therefore all patients undergoing cardiac surgery were included in this study, only exclusions being those patients who had redo or reopen procedures. Any complications that took place were noted in the proforma. This study was based on proforma that included patients profile, pre operative investigations, operative data, included date of surgery, type of surgery (whether coronary, valvular or others). Both intra and post operative complications, like cardio vascular complications, respiratory complications, neurological complications, renal complications, infective complications and miscellaneous complications were noted and entered in the proforma. Results: Over the period of one year, 312 patients have their cardiac surgeries in the department of cardiac surgery, Civil Hospital, Karachi. Over all rate of complications were118 (37.8%), cardiovascular complications were in 65 patients, neurological in 8 patients, respiratory in 27 patients, renal in 5, infective in 10, and miscellaneous complications in 3 patients. There were two (.6%) mortalities in our study group. Conclusion: This study concludes that cardiac surgery is not free of complications. Therefore it must be done with care and with all the possible supportive measures. The incidence of complications in our unit is about the same as in other renowned centers of the world, but central nervous system complications were less as compared to others, probably related with younger age group of patients in our study.