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. 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. In adult CHD, a clinically relevant classification of lesions into three categories is useful: (1) Complete surgical correction, (2) partial surgical correction or palliation, and (iii) uncorrected…
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. 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…
KEY POINTS 1. The total annual cost of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. is close to 400 billion representing 17% of the total health care costs due to major illness….
KEY POINTS 1. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) challenges the anesthesiologist and surgeon to maintain hemodynamic stability while delicate coronary arterial anastomoses are performed on a beating heart. 2….
KEY POINTS 1. Transport from the operating room (OR) to the intensive care unit (ICU) is a critical period for patient monitoring or vigilance. Emergency drugs and airway equipment should…
KEY POINTS 1. Previous concepts of independent intrinsic and extrinsic plasma coagulation pathways, a cell-free final common pathway, and platelet clotting have given way to an integrated concept of cell-based…
KEY POINTS 1. Both anemia and transfusion carry significant risks. Balancing these risks is the key to appropriate blood transfusion decisions. 2. Despite published guidelines about transfusion, clinical transfusion practice…
