Background: The aim of this study was to present and discuss the early outcomes of our cardiac reoperation cases.

Methods: Between February 2001 and September 2008, 8645 patients underwent cardiac operations in our clinic. Medical records of 127 (1.46%) of them (76 females 51 males; mean age 51.2±13.6 years; range 11 to 75 years), who underwent cardiac reoperation, were retrospectively analyzed. The main reasons for redo cardiac surgery were progression of valvular diseases after repairs (n=43), occlusion of left internal thoracic artery or saphenous vein grafts (n=35). Preoperative clinical characteristics, perioperative data and early postoperative outcomes of the cases were presented.

Results: The interval between the first and redo cardiac operation was 7.5±8.0 (1-35) years. Four cases were operated under emergency conditions. Types of the reoperations were as follows: 35 isolated coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (27.5%), 70 isolated valve surgery (55.1%), 10 combined valvular plus coronary artery bypass grafting surgery and 12 other types of cardiac reoperation. In-hospital mortality rate was 5.5% (7 cases).

Conclusion: Reoperation itself is no longer a risk factor for poor outcome and we believe that cardiac reoperations may be done effectively and with acceptable risks when specific multidisciplinary approaches are adopted.

Keywords : Aort valve replacement; arrythmia; coronary artery bypass grafting; reoperation; valve, aortic