[Extra-cardiac risk factors in heart surgery--the vascular system]

The operative course of corrective surgical interventions for acquired cardiac lesions can be significantly influenced by several noncardiac vascular diseases. Topographic location and clinical importance of those vascular malformations have, therefore, to be taken into consideration when deciding on surgical treatment for cardiac disease. This is applicable to the change of prognosis, as well as to any additional operative risk due to the vascular disease or its simultaneous surgical correction. Moreover, the operation itself often cannot be performed in a standardised surgical way. Therefore, the incidence of perioperative complications can be higher than usual. These problems are discussed in general with reference to special clinical cases.