[Lyell's syndrome complicated with multi-organ failure and patient's death after complex cardiac surgery - a case...

A complex cardiac surgery may be associated with a number of complications. The occurrence of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) in the postoperative period in a patient who has already experienced other complications contributes to the worsening of his prognosis. Despite the regression of necrotic skin lesions TEN can lead to tragic complications.

A 48-year-old patient was admitted as scheduled to a cardiac surgery ward for a complex cardiac surgery. During the procedure, a mechanical aortic valve prosthesis, an ascending aorta prosthesis were implanted, and the left internal thoracic artery (LIMA) was grafted to the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). The intraoperative course was not complicated. In the postoperative period, some fluid was found in the left pleural cavity, which was decompressed. In the following days of the postoperative period an instability of the sternum and a serous-bloody discharge from the wound ocurred, these resulted in the reoperation and use of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy. Later, there were also haemorrhagic complications requiring surgical intervention and numerous transfusions of blood components. The patient was diagnosed with a very rare complication in the form of toxic epidermal necrolysis. Despite the therapy and regression of skin lesions an irreversible multi-organ failure developed in the patient which resulted in his death.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis turned out to be a complication significantly contributing to the patient's death.