Respiratory Complications Following Heart Surgery

Cardiac surgery has evolved significantly over the past few decades, offering effective treatments for serious heart conditions. However, despite these advances, patients undergoing cardiac surgery remain at significant risk for postoperative complications. Among these complications, respiratory complications are particularly significant due to their frequency, their impact on morbidity and mortality, and their effect on patients' quality of life. The aim of this study was to compare the study population based on the occurrence or absence of postoperative respiratory complications (PRC), to determine their epidemiology, to identify at-risk patients, and to determine the predictors of mortality. To this end, we conducted a prospective, descriptive, observational study at Habib Bourguiba Hospital in Sfax involving 80 patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Among our patients, 54 developed PORC, representing 67.5%. The mortality rate was 18.8%, or 15 patients.