• S Chauhan, N Saxena, S Mehrotra, B H Rao, and M Sahu.
• Department of Cardiac Anaesthesia, C.N. Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
• J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. 2000 Jun 1;14(3):274-6.

ObjectiveTo compare radial and femoral artery perfusion pressure during initiation and various stages of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).DesignProspective study.SettingThe cardiac center of a tertiary referral teaching institute.ParticipantsSixty consecutive patients of all ages undergoing a variety of cardiac operations.InterventionsRadial and femoral arterial pressures were measured in all patients on the same transducer, from the beginning to end of CPB.Measurements And Main ResultsMean perfusion pressures on CPB measured at the femoral artery at 1, 5, 10, and 15 minutes of CPB were 38.4+/-3.6, 46.2+/-3.1, 49.7+/-3.9, and 52.8+/-4.1 mmHg and were significantly greater than the corresponding radial artery pressures (29.9+/-4.1, 35.3+/-6.1, 40.9+/-4.8, and 41.8+/-5.3 mmHg) (p < 0.001). At 30 minutes and 60 minutes of CPB, femoral artery pressures are higher (60.3+/-8.8 mmHg and 66.4+/-8.2 mmHg) compared with radial artery pressures (54.7+/-6.9 mmHg and 59.6+/-6.1 mmHg), but the difference is less significant (p < 0.05). On conclusion of CPB, mean femoral artery pressures (70.9+/-6.7 mmHg) are greater than mean radial artery pressures (67.6+/-8.1 mmHg) (NS).ConclusionsAlthough radial artery pressures are more commonly monitored during cardiac surgery, femoral artery perfusion pressures are more reliable during the initial part of CPB, and routine monitoring of femoral artery pressures may prevent vasoconstrictor use on initiation of CPB.

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