ABSTRACT
Acute complications in cardiac surgery have a serious impact on outcomes. This chapter reviews the most common complications encountered in cardiac surgery and cardiac trauma. At a technical level, cardiac operations involve a level of precision for which even the slightest deviation has the potential for catastrophic consequences. Systemic air embolism resulting in massive stroke is a rare but catastrophic complication associated with an immediate mortality rate of 22%. Cardiac tamponade in the postoperative setting may manifest itself in the classic manner, with elevated right heart pressures, jugular venous distention, and shock. Postoperative atrial fibrillation may be the most common complication after cardiac surgery, with an overall incidence greater than 25%. The incidence of stroke after cardiac surgery is about 5% for isolated coronary bypass surgery and 7%–8% for combined coronary/valve procedures. The incidence of lung injury with cardiac surgery is 12%, and the incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome is 1.3%.
