[Treatment of postoperative complications in cardiothoracic surgery: single-center 10-year experience]

To evaluate the results of treatment of postoperative complications in one surgical center over 10 years.

There were 100 patients with intrapleural complications and indications for surgical correction after various cardiothoracic interventions between 2013 and 2023.

Mortality after thoracoscopic surgeries for cardiothoracic complications was 5%. There were 3 patients after on-pump cardiac and aortic surgeries, 1 patient after right-sided pneumonectomy with resection of the tracheobronchial angle. In all cases, the indication for video-assisted thoracoscopy was pulmonary-pleural complications with sepsis. One patient died after repeated VATS. This was a 66-year-old patient with severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. Postoperative period was accompanied by severe respiratory failure and hemopneumothorax that required emergency VATS surgery for hemostasis and one-stage tracheostomy. Despite the intensive care, the patient died under progressive multiple organ failure. Other patients were discharged.

Thoracoscopic technologies allow for complete debridement of the pleural cavities and mediastinum, as well as elimination of causes of complications. Interdisciplinary interaction and trust are necessary for successful treatment of postoperative complications in cardiothoracic surgery.