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Cholesterol crystal embolization after cardiac operations. Report of two cases
J F Vazquez-Jimenez1, A Pérez-Bouza, O J Liakopoulos
1Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Universitätsklinikum RWTH, Aachen, Germany. jvasquez-jimenez@post.klinikum.rwth-aachen.de
Abstract:
We report two cases of systemic cholesterol embolization after coronary bypass surgery under extracorporeal circulation. First clinical symptoms starting at 48-72 h after cardiac operation were severe abdominal pain and elevated ischemia associated blood parameters. In both patients a laparotomy was performed but fatal outcome due to multi-organ failure could not be avoided. The awareness of this often fatal complication is of great importance for the surgeon since prevention is the only effective treatment.