Cardiac Surgery and Concomitant Disease: Incidence, Preoperative Preparation, and Prognostic Relevance

The incidence of concomitant disease in patients referred for cardiac surgery has increased substantially throughout the years. Years ago a significant proportion of patients due for cardiac surgery would not have been operated on, as the risk of concomitant disease were estimated as being too high. Over the years techniques in cardiac surgery, anaesthesiology and intensive care treatment have improved, thus, enabling us to operate on and to treat more severely ill patients and those with extraneous complications. Cardiac Surgery and Concomitant Disease presents the current knowledge in dealing with high risk patients scheduled for cardiac surgery.