Background: We evaluated the results of coronary artery bypass surgery and the effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on mortality and morbidity in patients living in Zonguldak, where the incidence of COPD is high.

Methods: The study included 102 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Preoperative respiratory function tests showed COPD in 40 patients (39.2%, group 1) and no COPD in 62 patients (group 2). The two groups were compared with respect to postoperative mortality and morbidity.

Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to low cardiac output, reoperation due to hemorrhage, atrial fibrillation, use of intra-aortic balloon pump, prolonged intubation, and infection. Intensive care unit stay and the length of hospitalization were significantly longer in group 1 (p=0.004 and p=0.01, respectively). Mortality occurred in one patient (2.5%) in group 1, whereas there was no mortality in group 2. In logistic regression analysis, aortic cross-clamp time and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass were found to be predictors of mortality (p=0.02 and p=0.005, respectively).

Conclusion: While COPD was a relative contraindication for coronary artery bypass surgery in former years, the risk is reduced in parallel with advances in open heart surgery, and improvements in intensive care and anesthesiology units.

Keywords : Cardiopulmonary bypass; coronary artery bypass; pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive/complications; respiratory function tests