Posted by CCF CARDIO MD sc on October 17, 1997 at 14:07:28:

In Reply to: cardiopulmonary bypass posted by ulysses on October 11, 1997 at 15:13:47:

: does cardiopulmonary bypass diminish left ventricular function?
do multiple entries into the chest cavity cause a degree of restriction and fibrosis of the myrocardium?
what is the proper placement of the swan-ganz catheter during open heart
surgery?
if the phrenic nerve were severed during a side entry would there be an immediate response of the diaphram? if so, would this cause any additional difficulty or risk to reach the heart?
if the swan-ganz were mistakenly placed in the superior vena cava and entrapped by suture could it be freed via mediastinal exploration thru median sternotomy incision without use of bypass pump? would the lack of
its use cause any further complications or risks?

Dear Ulysses.
The questions you have asked me are very provocative but I hope you understand that the scope of this forum is to give generalized information and not to serve as reference for specific complications as we are not privy to the specifics of the cases concerned. As you understand any medical procedure may be associated with complication, and unfortunately cardiac surgery is not an exception. The complications you have listed are all well documented complications of cardiac surgery done under bypass conditions, and the degree to which they are seen is a multifaceted phenomenon that is dependent on the number of surgeries, and the patients age and medical condition. I cannot be more specific about the questions you have asked because I do not have all the necessary information. If you would like to have your specific questions answered, I suggest you talk to your cardiologist or cardiothoracic surgeon. You may also consider going to a different institution for a second opinion. If you like, you may even set an appointment with one of our cardiologists at the Cleveland Clinic by calling 1-800-CCF-CARE to set this up.

This information is for generalized purposes only, specific diagnosis can and should only be made by your physician.