[Perioperative complications after heart valve replacement]

These days, the majority of perioperative complications resulting from operations on heart valves are more a consequence of the increasing age and morbidity of the patients and, despite all cardiac surgical and intensive care innovations, are still more the effect of the procedure on the other organ systems of the patient than being purely of a surgical nature. The surgical short - and long-term results after heart valve operations are significantly influenced by the early detection and adequate management of these manifold complications.