Re-exploration for bleeding or tamponade after cardiac surgery: impact of timing and indication on outcome.

Objectives: Re-exploration after cardiac surgery remains a frequent complication with adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of timing and indication of re-exploration on outcome.

Methods: A retrospective, observational study on a cohort of 209 patients, who underwent re-exploration after cardiac surgery between January 2005 and December 2011, was performed.