[Heart surgery and human immunodeficiency virus]

The authors report their experience of cardiac surgery in 9 carriers of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Eight HIV seropositive patients underwent surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass for valve repair or replacement. Eight patients were asymptomatic with respect to their viral infection: one patient had generalised lymphadenopathy. The hospital mortality was 1/9 (11.1%). There was no infectious morbidity. Five patients are alive with an average follow-up of 29.6 months and in NYHA Stages I or II. One patient deteriorated and presented symptoms of an AIDS-related complex. These results suggest that if the operative indications are justified, cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass may be performed in asymptomatic HIV seropositive patients.