CARDIAC-SURGERY AND THE HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

The authors report their experience of cardiac surgery in 9 carriers o f the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Eight HIV seropositive patie nts underwent surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass for valve repair or replacement. Eight patients were asymptomatic with respect to their v iral infection : one patient had generalised lymphadenopathy. The hosp ital mortality was 1/9 (11.1 %). There was no infectious morbidity. Fi ve patients are alive with an average follow-up of 29.6 months and in NYHA Stages I or II. One patient deteriorated and presented symptoms o f an AIDS-related complex. These results suggest that if the operative indications are justified, cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypa ss may be performed in asymptomatic HIV seropositive patients.