[Heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation in long-term hemodialysis patients].

Prolongation of life expectancy achieved by chronic dialysis permits occurrence of correctable cardiac disease to an increasing degree. In contrast to the previously poor prognosis in dialysis patients with coronary and valvular heart disease the present series demonstrates successful management of such interventions. Nine patients are presented (8 bypass operations, one aortic valve replacement) with a mean age of 51 years and a mean duration of dialysis treatment of 47 months. Patient risks are not markedly increased by this additional disease. Patients with chronic renal insufficiency and chronic continuous dialysis should not generally be excluded from surgery due to an assumed increased risk of operation.