Patients after valve/combined surgery are more likely to require readmission to the ICU. Respiratory complications were the most common reasons for readmission. To reduce the readmission rate, it is necessary to treat cardio-respiratory problems early, particularly in patients showing predictive risk factors.

Multicenter analysis confirms that a history of multiple previous percutaneous coronary interventions increases in-hospital mortality and the incidence of major adverse cardiac events after subsequent coronary artery bypass grafting. Critical discussion of the treatment strategy in these patients is warranted.

We could show that there is normally no need for blood transfusion in (2/3) of the patients in cardiac surgery according to this study's results. Furthermore, it was obvious that some patient variables can be used predict the risk for perioperative transfusion. Based on these results, the prophylactic administration of aprotinin or the use of a cell saver could be useful in selected patients.

Serum lactate levels in the acute diagnosis were an excellent biomarker for the discrimination of generalized seizures from psychogenic non-epileptic and syncopal events, corroborating its importance for the standard work-up of acute disturbances of consciousness.