Arch Surg Chicago
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A prospective study of 126 surgical patients from two institutions was undertaken to assess the impact of pulmonary artery catheterization in surgical intensive care units. Before catheterization, surgical residents were asked to predict pulmonary artery wedge pressure, cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, and plan of therapy. ⋯ Catheterization results prompted a major change in therapy in 50% of patients. The data suggest that hemodynamic variables obtained from pulmonary artery catheterization improve the accuracy of bedside evaluation and lead to alteration in therapy, particularly in patients whose pulmonary artery wedge pressure predictions were poor.
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During an 8-year period ending in 1988, 173 consecutive patients with a history of previous cerebrovascular accident underwent general anesthesia for surgery. Five patients (2.9%) had documented postoperative cerebrovascular accidents from 3 to 21 days (mean, 12.2 days) after surgery. ⋯ We conclude that the risk of perioperative stroke is low (2.9%) but not easily predicted and that the risk continues beyond the first week of convalescence. Unlike myocardial infarction, cerebral reinfarction risk does not seem to depend on time since previous infarct.