The acute abdomen following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery

Over a 5-year period, 9 patients (0.85 per cent) developed a major acute abdominal complication after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Difficulties in the initial recognition and diagnosis of these complications in sedated, ill patients are highlighted. A high index of suspicion is important in the early diagnosis of these complications. The numbers are too small for statistical analysis, but experience suggests that each case should be dealt with on its merits in accordance with common surgical practice and that operative management should not be rejected because the patient has recently undergone a major cardiac operation.