Annals of surgery
-
We prospectively studied patients with hypertension and diabetes undergoing elective noncardiac surgery with general anesthesia to test the hypothesis that patients at high risk for prognostically significant intraoperative hemodynamic instability could be identified by their preoperative characteristics. Specifically we hypothesized that patients with a low functional capacity, decreased plasma volume, or significant cardiac comorbidity would be at high risk for intraoperative hypotension and those with a history of severe hypertension would be at risk for intraoperative hypertension. Patients who had a preoperative mean arterial pressure (MAP) greater than or equal to 110, a walking distance of less than 400 m, or a plasma volume less than 3000 cc were at increased risk of intraoperative hypotension (i.e., more than 1 hour of greater than or equal to 20 mmHg decreases in the MAP). ⋯ Both hypotension and hyper/hypotension were associated with increased renal and cardiac complications after operation. Patients with cardiac disease, especially diabetics, and those with negative fluid balances also had increased complications. Preoperative characteristics influence the susceptibility to intraoperative hypotension and hypertension, which are related to postoperative complications.
-
Although many different tests are used to diagnose myocardial contusion, the clinical implications of the diagnosis are unclear. This makes it difficult to decide which patients require admission to a monitored bed. During 16 months, 3010 patients with blunt trauma were reviewed for evidence of sequelae attributable to myocardial contusion. ⋯ Echocardiography and creatine phosphokinase isoenzyme levels, although frequently positive, did not predict morbidity. Clinically significant myocardial contusions are rare. Patients who will develop life-threatening complications from blunt cardiac injury can be identified in an emergency room setting.