Morbidity and Mortality

With CPB, survival rates in arrested patients approach 50%, even with a time to put bypass in place of around an hour [2,11,12]. The best figures are obtained from units dealing with cold mountain regions, as the population in question are younger and fitter than the urban population which typify the UK case mix. However, reasonable figures have also been reported from urban populations [12].

Common problems in the survivors include adult acute respiratory distress syndrome (see radiograph shown), acute renal failure and pneumonia [5]. The majority of the survivors can be expected to have good neurological outcome [5]. The majority of deaths are due to failure to wean the patients from bypass.