HORNERS-SYNDROME AFTER CORONARY-ARTERY BYPASS-SURGERY

We established the frequency of Horner's syndrome (HS) in 248 elective patients after coronary artery bypass surgery. Patients were evaluate d neurologically pre- and post-operatively and 6 months after surgery. Nineteen patients (7.7%) developed unilateral HS postoperatively, 12 involving the left eye. The finding persisted in 10 patients (4%) at 6 months. When assessed 2 to 6 days, or 6 months, postoperatively, HS t ended to be isolated and not associated with C8/T1 plexopathy. Among n ondiabetic subjects, hypertensive patients had a higher frequency of H S than normotensive patients (10.6% versus 2.9%, p = 0.05). Among norm otensive subjects, diabetic patients had a higher frequency than nondi abetic patients (15% versus 2.9%, p = 0.08). There was no association between HS, age, sex, internal mammary artery grafting, or length of c ardiopulmonary bypass time. In summary, HS is a common and sometimes p ersistent complication of coronary artery bypass surgery. Hypertensive , and possibly diabetic, patients appear to be at greatest risk for de veloping HS.