Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 1994
Use of monitoring devices during anesthesia for cardiac surgery: a survey of practices at public hospitals within the United Kingdom and Ireland.
A questionnaire was sent to all 42 public hospitals, within the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland, known to conduct elective cardiac surgery. Information was sought with regard to the availability of intraoperative monitoring equipment. ⋯ Similarly, continuous monitoring of arterial oxygen tension and oxygen fraction in the gas flow to the bypass machine was not conducted in 28 and 32 hospitals, respectively. This survey revealed that essential anesthetic monitoring devices, as defined by the United Kingdom Association of Anesthetists, are not in routine usage during the pre-bypass and post-bypass phases of anesthesia for cardiac surgery within the British Isles.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialAn amrinone bolus prior to weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass improves cardiac function in mitral valve surgery patients.
This double-blind, randomized study was performed to assess the effectiveness of a single bolus dose of 2 mg/kg of amrinone given during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. Outcome variables were hemodynamic function and the number and amount of vasopressors or inotropes required to wean from CPB. In amrinone-treated patients, cardiac index (CI) increased significantly by 48 +/- 14% following CPB (T3) versus 10 +/- 10% for placebo-treated patients (P = 0.029). ⋯ While on CPB, mean arterial pressure at 5 minutes following administration of the study drug was decreased in amrinone patients by 20 +/- 4% versus 4 +/- 3% in placebo patients (P = 0.005), but was no different at 10 and 15 minutes. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of patients who required supplemental inotropes or vasopressors either during CPB, following separation from CPB, or upon arrival in the ICU. Thus, amrinone improved CI without changing pulmonary vascular resistance or the requirement for supplemental inotropes or vasopressors in patients undergoing elective mitral valve surgery.
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J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. · Aug 1994
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialSomatosensory evoked potential monitoring of the brachial plexus to predict nerve injury during internal mammary artery harvest: intraoperative comparisons of the Rultract and Pittman sternal retractors.
Brachial plexus injury after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) continues to be a common problem postoperatively. With the use of somatosensory evoked potential monitoring (SSEP), neurologic integrity of the brachial plexus during internal mammary artery (IMA) harvest was assessed and the Rultract and Pittman sternal retractors were compared to determine what effect they had on SSEP characteristics. Results showed that the Rultract and Pittman retractors caused large decreases in SSEP amplitudes after insertion, (1.25 +/- 0.14 versus 0.72 +/- 0.09, P < 0.05; and 1.64 +/- 0.27 versus 0.91 +/- 0.14, P < 0.05) respectively. ⋯ The nerve plexus seems to be most at risk for pathologic injury during retraction of the sternum for IMA harvest. Though the Rultract retractor caused greater changes in SSEP characteristics than the Pittman, no clinical outcome differences between the two could be ascertained. Using SSEP monitoring may reduce brachial plexus injury during IMA harvest by allowing early detection of nerve compromise and therapeutic interventions to alleviate the insult while under general anesthesia.