General surgical complications following cardiac surgery.

During the five-year period ending July 1981, 3,200 patients underwent cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass at the Medical College of Virginia. Twenty-five patients (0.8%) experienced general surgical complications. Gastrointestinal bleeding was the most common complication encountered. The overall mortality of 24% compares favorably with other reported series. General surgical complications following cardiac surgery are serious and may be caused by aggravation of pre-existing disease, hypoperfusion, stress, or a combination of all three. Although intensive nonoperative therapy may be effective, early reoperation is recommended when nonoperative measures fail.