Surgical Treatment for Acute Abdomen After Cardiovascular Operations
Abstract
We reviewed 1325 cardiovascular surgical cases in our 17-year experience. Seven men and 2 women presented with an acute abdomen between postoperative day 4 and day 26. Intra-abdominal complications included gastroduodenal hemorrhage in 3 men, perforated duodenal ulcer in 1 man, acalculous cholecystitis in 3 patients after 2 to 4 weeks of fasting, intestinal obstruction in 1 woman, and mesenteric artery occlusion in 1 man. Two of these patients (22%) died from subsequent complications and the others recovered after surgical interventions. None of the 633 patients under 50 years old developed an acute abdomen. Complications related to gastroduodenal ulcer were observed only in men. Far advanced heart failure that forced long-term fasting might have been the cause of acalculous cholecystitis. Prompt and appropriate surgical interventions were required to minimize unfavorable consequences.