KEY POINTS 1. Preoperatively respiratory function should be assessed in three related but independent areas: Respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, and cardiopulmonary interaction. 2. The most useful preoperative predictor of difficult…
KEY POINTS 1. An aortic dissection usually occurs when blood penetrates the aortic intima, forming either an expanding hematoma within the aortic wall or simply a false channel for blood…
KEY POINTS 1. Drug errors are a common cause of accidental injury to patients. The author suggests referring to drug package inserts or the Physician Desk Reference to check any…
KEY POINTS 1. Inability to climb two flights of stairs showed a positive predictive value of 82% for postoperative pulmonary or cardiac complications. 2. Silent ischemia is more common in…
KEY POINTS 1. The goal of cardiopulmonary bypass is to provide adequate gas exchange, oxygen delivery, systemic blood flow with adequate perfusion pressure while minimizing the detrimental effects of bypass….
KEY POINTS 1. The incidence of overt stroke is 2% to 6% for closed-chamber cardiac procedures. For open-chamber procedures, the incidence of stroke is increased to 4.2% to 13%. 2….
KEY POINTS 1. Despite the many and varied etiologies, the manifestations of pericardial disease are primarily expressed as pericardial effusion, inflammation, and constriction. The common theme is impaired cardiac filling…
KEY POINTS 1. Patients with moderate to severe left ventricular dysfunction are at a higher risk for sustained monomorphic VT than those with preserved left ventricular function. 2. VT more…
KEY POINTS 1. The majority of cardiac surgical transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) imaging uses 2-dimensions, which is accomplished via phased array transducers consisting of 64 to 128 small crystals activated sequentially….
KEY POINTS 1. Nonischemic cardiomyopathy (53%) is the most common pretransplant diagnosis worldwide. 2. Nearly 70% of recipients in the United States require some form of life support prior to…
