Because of the paucity of literature reports about cardiac Operations in renal-transplant
patients we performed a retrospective study encompassing all such patients operated
upon in our Institution in 1993 and 1994. During this time 5 renal transplant patients
underwent cardiac surgical procedures between 1 and 9 years after transplantation:
in 4 patients coronary artery bypass grafting (CABC) was carried out and in one patient
aortic valve replacement. We analyzed pre-, peri-, and postoperative data. Late results
were obtained by questionnaire from the patients' primary physicians. Short- and long-term
results were excellent. Mortality was 0%. At late follow-up (8-23 months) all patients
were in NYHA class II or better. Postoperatively all patients experienced a clear
improvement of their cardiac Symptoms. None of the transplanted kidneys deteriorated.
One patient who had to undergo intermittent hemodialysis preopera- tively improved
so much that she did not require any dialysis postoperatively. Although the total
number of patients in this study is limited we believe it can be stated that renal
transplant patients can undergo cardiac Operations with generally good results.
End stage renal disease - Cardiac surgery - Renal transplantation - Outcome
