Table 3.
Morbidity and in-hospital deaths
| Variable | n (%) or mean (SD) |
| Intensive care unit stay (days) | 1.3 (0.8) |
| Mechanical ventilation (h) | 6.5 (2.7) |
| Prolonged ventilation (>48 h) | 12 (2.2%) |
| New intra-aortic balloon pump | 11 (2%) |
| New myocardial infarction | 12 (2.2%) |
| Inotropic use (dopamine >6 μg/kg/min) | 38 (6.9%) |
| Atrial fibrillation | 55 (10%) |
| Other arrhythmias | 18 (3.3%) |
| Bleeding >1000 ml | 44 (8.8%) |
| Renal dysfunction (creatinine >177 μmol/l) | 32 (5.8%) |
| Postoperative ultrafiltration/haemodialysis | 10 (1.8%) |
| Unilateral pulmonary embolism (chest x ray) | 38 (7%) |
| Bilateral pulmonary embolism (chest x ray) | 26 (4.7%) |
| Postoperative THC | 44 (8%) |
| Pneumothorax | 30 (5.6%) |
| Diaphragm impairment | 2 (0.4%) |
| Bronchopneumonia | 17 (3.1%) |
| Gastrointestinal complications | 12 (2.2%) |
| Transient neurological complications | 12 (2.2%) |
| Stroke | 3 (0.44%)* |
| Multiorgan failure | 3 (0. 4%) |
| Sepsis | 6 (1.1%) |
| Skin layer dehiscence | 9 (1.6%) |
| Deep sternal wound infection | 6 (1.1%) |
| In-hospital mortality | 19 (3.4%) |
| Causes of in-hospital death | |
| Acute myocardial infarction | 4 |
| Aortic dissection | 1 |
| Low cardiac output | 4 |
| Multiorgan failure | 1 |
| Sepsis | 1 |
| Permanent stroke | 1 |
| Coagulopathy/bleeding | 1 |
*One postoperative stroke was identified in one patient undergoing concomitant carotid endarterectomy and the other one in a patient undergoing associated mitral valve surgery.
THC, thoracocentesis.