Abstract
Background
Despite several concerns involving patient status and care givers, the surgical management of cardiac diseases in patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive status has evolved into a social reality which has good clinical outcome and safety. We report here our clinical experience of seven patients with HIV positive status, on anti retroviral therapy, undergoing cardiac surgery. Human resources, social and ethical problems faced in dealing with these patients are also discussed.
Methods
This is a retrospective review of seven patients, all males, ranging in age from 33 to 60 years with HIV positive status and undergoing anti retroviral therapy who have undergone cardiac surgical procedures. Their clinical presentation, management, special precautions, pre and post operative medical therapies and follow up are discussed.
Results
All 7 patients had good hospital course following their procedures. There was no hospital mortality. One patient was readmitted for recurrent pleural effusion which was drained. All patients, except one lost to follow up are alive and well with no cardiac symptom relapse between 6 months and 3 years.
Conclusion
Cardiac surgery can be offered to patients with HIV positive status, with appropriate precautions, with safety to both patients and care givers. Immediate and short term clinical outcomes in these patients are no different than for similar pathologies in sero negative patients.
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Kumar, N., Reddy, B., Jitendra, V. et al. Cardiac surgery in HIV positive patients : Growing needs and concerns. Single centre experience in an Indian setting. Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 24, 5–9 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-008-0002-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-008-0002-8