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[Usefulness of clinical examination in detecting infectious foci prior to cardiac surgery]
N Lardon1, D Quinodoz, A Kalangos
1Clinique et Policlinique d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, HUG Genève.
Introduction:
In many institutions patients are evaluated to rule out an infectious focus in the ENT sphere prior to cardiac surgery. In a prospective clinical study we assessed the contribution of history and clinical examination in the detection of ENT infections.
Methods:
From October 1998 to January 2000, 68 patients were evaluated by self-administered questionnaire and an ENT examination. Dental status was evaluated separately by a dentist.
Results:
The patient population was divided into two groups: The first group consisted of 23 patients (33.8%) with at least one ENT symptom: in 22 the examination was normal and one patient had viral pharyngitis. 5 patients in this group presented a postoperative infectious complication. The second group comprised 45 patients (66.2%) without a history suggestive of a possible infectious focus: in 44 the examination was normal and one patient presented otitis media with effusion. 2 patients in this group had a postoperative infectious complication.
Discussion:
Routine ENT examination is not necessary prior to cardiac surgery. The patient history can be used to select patients for further evaluation.
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