MULTIPLE ORGAN DYSFUNCTION AFTER HEART-VALVE REPLACEMENT

Multiple organ dysfunction (MOD) after valve replacement was studied i n a period of 1980-1991. The incidences of MOD involving 2, 3 and 4 or gans were 17.1%, 5.6% and 4.3% with corresponding mortalities of 12%, 18.5% and 76.2%. We focused on dysfunction of more than 3 organs, the dreadful complication, which can be divided clinically into three type s: acute (type I), deteriorating (type II), and pulmonary infection (t ype III). In MOD, the function of heart and lung is primarily depresse d after surgery. So the predisposing factors of MOD are acute pump fai lure and hypoxemia, and the possible triggering factor is infection, e specially pulmonary infection, which re-endangers the organs recoverin g from the primary blows. Thus prevention of pulmonary infection is of same importance as treatment of pump failure and hypoxemia.