Defining severity of adhesions during redo cardiac surgery using Preoperative Computed Tomography scans and impact on surgical approach

Results In the study, 58 patients had preoperative CT scans and 34 patients did not. Preoperative CT scans identified 36 patients with moderate adhesions and 22 patients with severe adhesions. 13 out of 36 patients (33%) with moderate adhesions on CT scans had moderate adhesions during surgery. 16 out of 22 patients (73%) with severe adhesions on CT scans had severe adhesions during surgery. No association was found between the degree of adhesions on preoperative CT scans and surgical findings (p = 0.486). Severe adhesions on preoperative CT scans are not associated with greater use of preventative surgical strategies (p = 0.134). No significant difference in mortality was found in patients who had preoperative CT scan and those who did not (p = 0.070). No association was found between the severity of adhesions and time elapsed from initial cardiac surgery (p = 0.695).