Surgical treatment of iatrogenic cardiac traumas induced by heart catheterization

BACKGROUND: A retrospective evaluation was made on iatrogenic cardiac traumas requiring surgical treatment, that were induced by cardiac catheterizations and interventions performed within a 17-year period. METHODS: A total of 64,911 patients underwent cardiac catheterizations and interventions from 1985 to 2002. Complications of iatrogenic cardiac traumas induced by these interventions were examined together with the surgical treatment performed within 24 hours after catheterization. RESULTS: Iatrogenic cardiac trauma requiring prompt surgical intervention was documented in 20 patients (6 females, 14 males; mean age 51 years; range 31 to 69 years). These were due to coronary angiography/balloon angioplasty-stenting in 14 (70%), percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty in four (20%), and to heart catheterization in two patients (10%). Acute cardiac tamponade was detected in 10 patients (50%) resulting from perforations to the cardiac chambers in six, coronary arteries in two, and major vessels in two patients. Surgical interventions included coronary artery by-pass in 14, mitral valve surgery in four, and repair of major vessels in two patients. Perioperative mortality occurred in two patients. Six patients developed complications contributing to morbidity, including perioperative myocardial infarction (3 patients), infection (2 patients), and prolonged intubation (1 patient). CONCLUSION: In case of major cardiac complications induced during cardiac catheterizations, early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention are of vital importance regardless of considerably high risks.

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