[Cardiovascular Surgery for Patients Under Immunosuppressive Therapy].

Immunosuppressive agents including steroids are generally given to patients with collagen disease or organ transplant recipients. Cardiovascular surgery for these patients can potentially associate with increased rate of postoperative infection or wound healing complications. Here, some key points for perioperative management in patients under immunosuppressive therapy are reviewed. Before an elective surgery, steroids need to be tapered down as much as possible, because even small amount of steroid can lead to adverse postoperative outcomes. Withholding Biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors is recommended for stable collagen disease patients. Current guidelines for perioperative management of antirheumatic medication are summarized in Table 1. Perioperative Glucocorticoid management is also required for patients exposed to steroid therapy. Intra-and postoperative steroid cover regimen is shown in Table 2. On the other hand, immunosuppressive therapy should not be discontinued for those after organ transplant and patients with severely active collagen disease. Our experience of kidney transplant recipients who underwent cardiovascular surgery is shown in Table 3. Close monitoring of blood Tacrolimus level is highly important, because it tends to fluctuate after operation and high Tacrolimus level possibly leads to deterioration in renal function. In conclusion, careful perioperative management in cooperation with transplant surgeons and rheumatologists is vital in this clinical setting.