PURPOSE:

To analyse the main cardiac risk factors responsible for immediate and late outcomes in patients undergoing thoracic surgeries.

METHODS:

We performed a retrospective analysis of 90 cases of cardiac patients submitted to non-cardiac thoracic surgeries. Surgeries were divided into greater ones and others and the heart diseases into severe and mild disease. We analysed immediate and late complications, and the mortality inside these groups.

RESULTS:

We found a greater morbi-mortality in the greater surgeries group and a greater late mortality in the severe heart disease group. There were evidences that the degree of the heart disease does not influence immediate outcome.

CONCLUSION:

The heart disease was not a limiting immediate risk for surgery.