Atheroembolism from the ascending aorta : an emerging problem in cardiac surgery. Discussion

As the ages of patients undergoing cardiac operations have increased, noncardiac causes of death have increased. To identify these cause of death, we analyzed the autopsy findings in 221 patients undergoing myocardial revascularization or valve operations between 1982 and 1989. Mean age was 65.6±9.5 years and the range was from 32 to 94 years; 130 patients (58.8%) were male. Autopsies were complete in 129 patients (58.4%) and limited to the chest and abdomen inthe remainder. Embolic disease was identified in 69 patients (31.2%). Atheroemboli or abnormalities consistent with atheroemboli were identified in 48 patients (21.7%)