Monitoring the Cardiac Surgical Patient
KEY POINTS 1. For cardiac anesthesia, a five-electrode surface ECG monitor should be used in the diagnostic mode, with a frequency response of 0.05 to 100 Hz. 2. After a…
Anesthetic Management for Surgery of the Lungs and Mediastinum
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…
Cardiovascular Drugs
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…
Protection of the Brain during Cardiac Surgery
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….
The Cardiac Surgical Patient
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…
Transesophageal Echocardiography
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….
Anesthetic Considerations for Patients with Pericardial Disease
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…
Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Equipment, Circuits, and Pathophysiology
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….
Anesthetic Management for Patients with Congenital Heart Disease: The Adult Population
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…
Arrhythmia, Rhythm Management Devices, and Catheter and Surgical Ablation
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…
