The Impact of Re-Opening Post Cardiac Surgery on Short and Long- Term Outcomes: 11 Years Follow Up

Objective: Re opening immediately post major cardiac surgery is a problematic complication. Studies suggest bleeding and/or tamponade post cardiac surgery significantly affects in hospital mortality and length of stay. The primary objective of this study was to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of patients who were reopened with those who were not reopened (Control) following cardiac surgery using propensity matched analysis. Methods: In total, 7960 patients underwent cardiac surgery. 539 (6.8%) were reopened immediately post cardiac surgery for either bleeding or tamponade. Patients were propensity score matched (525 reopened versus 525 control) by age, gender, operative priority, preoperative arrhythmia, Ejection Fraction, Euroscores, logistic Euroscores, type of cardiac operation, Body Mass Index, bypass time and cross clamp times. Data were collected prospectively and follow up obtained to date on all patients. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 22. Results: The overall rate of re exploration was 6.8%. After propensity score matching the baseline demographics, pre-operative and intra operative variables were comparable between the two groups. Th