The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
-
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Feb 1984
Pattern of hemodynamic alterations during coronary artery operations.
Twenty-four patients were studied to determine the relative importance of cardiac and peripheral factors in the hemodynamic changes associated with coronary artery operations. None had preoperative evidence of ventricular impairment. Anesthetic management was standardized for all. ⋯ The alterations reported describe not only group averages but also the behavior of every patient investigated. The results suggest that in patients with normal or only mild left ventricular impairment, the major factor influencing arterial pressure variations during coronary artery operations and in the postoperative period was the change in peripheral resistance rather than alterations in cardiac output. In the treatment of hypotension under these conditions, one should take into account variations in peripheral vascular resistance and not depend solely on assumed changes in myocardial performance.