Open Heart Surgery in HIV Positive Patient : A Report of Two Cases

Abstract

Abstract

The acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has become a major public health problem worldwide particulary in Thailand where the incidence of HIV positive has increased rapidly. Srinagarind Hospital had 220 cases of HIV positive last year (1992).Now we have nearly a case per day of HIV positive in our hospital. Despite the risk of seroconversion following a needle  injury has been estimated only as less than one in 200 (Marcus 1988). Some practitioners in the USA have refused to performed elective surgery on HIV positive patients (Thompson 1987). From 1991 until now we had 2 cases of HIV positive which were undergone open heart surgery without any complition.Both patients were improved their functional class after surgery.

Protection of the health care workers, therefore, relies upon identification of these “high risk” patient group so that clinicians are able to decide when to take extraprecautions against transmission of infection from the patient to the health care workers. Such practice is the best way to do for these group of the patients.