Skip to main content
Log in

Imaging of abdominal complications following cardiac surgery

  • Published:
Abdominal Imaging Aims and scope

Abstract

Ten thousand seven hundred fifty-six patients underwent cardiac bypass surgery at the Mater Hospital national cardiac unit between September 1979 and April 1993. Of this group, 49 patients were identified who had developed postoperative gastrointestinal complications leading to 16 deaths. Twenty-five patients developed gastrointestinal hemorrhage, eight patients developed gallbladder disease, five patients developed phlegmonous pancreatitis, eight patients developed bowel perforations, and three patients developed intestinal pseudoobstruction. The particular radiological features that lead to diagnosis in each case are discussed and relevant literature is briefly reviewed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Welling RE, Roth R, Albers JE, Glaser RS. Gastrointestinal complications after cardiac surgery. Arch Surg 1986;121:1178–1180

    Google Scholar 

  2. Lawhorne TW, Davis JL, Smith GW. General surgical complications after cardiac surgery. Am J Surg 1978;136:254–256

    Google Scholar 

  3. Leitman MI, Paull DE, Barie PS. Intra-abdominal complications of cardiopulmonary bypass operations. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1987;161:251–254

    Google Scholar 

  4. Huddy SPJ, Joyce WP, Pepper JR. Gastrointestinal complications in 4473 patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Br J Surg 1991:78:293–296

    Google Scholar 

  5. Moneta GL, Misbach GA, Ivey TD. Hypoperfusion as a factor in the development of gastrointestinal complications of cardiac surgery. Am J Surg 1985;149:648–650

    Google Scholar 

  6. Patterson RH, Wasser JS, Parro RS. The effects of microembolic cerebrovascular blockade following cardio-pulmonary bypass. Am Thomac Surg 1974;17:464–473

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hunter GC, Guernsey JM. Mesenteric ischemia. Med Clin North Am 1988;72:1090–1115

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kadir S, Kaufman SL, Barth KH, White RI. Selected techniques in interventional radiology. 1982 Philadelphia: WB Saunders

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gilchrist AM, Mills JO, Russell CG. Acute large bowel pseudoobstruction. Clin Radiol 1985;36:401–404

    Google Scholar 

  10. Stewart J, Finan PJ, Courtney DF, Brennan TG. Does a water soluble contrast enema assist in the management of acute large bowel obstruction: a prospective study of 117 cases. Br J Surg 1984;71:799–801

    Google Scholar 

  11. MacManus Q, Krippaelne WW. Diastatic perforation of the caecum without distal obstruction. Arch Surg 1977;112:1227–1230

    Google Scholar 

  12. Long TN, Heimbach DM, Carrico CJ. Acalculous cholecystitis in critically ill patients. Am J Surg 1978;136:31–36

    Google Scholar 

  13. Warren BL. Small vessel occlusion in acalculous cholycystitis. Surgery 1992;2:163–168

    Google Scholar 

  14. Missavage AE, Weaver DW, Bouwman DL, Pamell V, Wilson RF. Hyperamylasaemia after cardio-pulmonary bypass surgery. Am J Surg 1984;56:297–300

    Google Scholar 

  15. Feiner H. Pancreatitis after cardiac surgery. Am J Surg 1976;131:684–688

    Google Scholar 

  16. Haas GS, Warshaw AL, Daggett WM, Aretz HT. Acute pancreatitis after cardiopulmonary bypass. Am J Surg 1985;149:508–515

    Google Scholar 

  17. Katz SE, Kornfeld DS, Harris PD, Yeoh CB. Acute gastrointestinal ulceration with open heart surgery and aortic valve disease. Surgery 1972:72:438–442

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eustace, S., Connolly, B., Egleston, C. et al. Imaging of abdominal complications following cardiac surgery. Abdom Imaging 19, 405–409 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00206925

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00206925

Key words

Navigation