Transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiographic analysis of right ventricular systolic performance indices during coronary artery bypass grafting

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 1993 Apr;7(2):160-6. doi: 10.1016/1053-0770(93)90210-c.

Abstract

Sixteen patients (aged 59 +/- 14 years) undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were evaluated to delineate the intraoperative course of transesophageal echocardiographic right ventricular (RV) systolic performance indices. Pre-induction data included thermodilution RV ejection fraction (RVEFTD), 0.43 +/- 0.13, RV end-diastolic volume index (EDVI), 110 +/- 33 mL/m2, cardiac index (CI), 3.4 +/- 1.0 L/min/m2, RV end-diastolic pressure (EDP), 7.1 +/- 4.2 mmHg, and mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), 21 +/- 6 mmHg. Eleven patients had significant right coronary artery (RCA) disease (> 70% occlusion). Five patients arrived with an ongoing nitroglycerin infusion (1 to 3 micrograms/kg/min), which was maintained intraoperatively. Echocardiographic measurements included longitudinal-axis (LA) and short-axis (SA) planimetered area excursion fractions (2DLA and 2DSA, respectively) and LA maximal major and minor axis shortening fractions (max majorLA and max minorLA, respectively). Hemodynamic measurements included RVEFTD, EDVI, CI, EDP, and PAP. Measurements were determined following induction/endotracheal intubation, following sternotomy/pericardiotomy, and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with the chest open. All patients were maintained on vasodilator therapy post-CPB (nitroglycerin, 1 to 3 micrograms/kg/min [N = 16] and nitroprusside, 0.5 to 4.5 microgram/kg/min [N = 4]) post-CPB. Two patients received inotropic support (epinephrine, 0.2 to 0.3 microgram/kg/min). CPB was associated with significant decreases in max major axisLA and 2DLA (P < 0.05) as compared to measurements determined prior to CPB. Maximum major axisLA values pre-CPB were 0.35 +/- 0.06 and 0.33 +/- 0.08 versus post-CPB values of 0.24 +/- 0.08.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

MeSH terms

  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Cardiac Output / physiology
  • Cardiac Volume / physiology
  • Cardiopulmonary Bypass
  • Coronary Artery Bypass*
  • Echocardiography / methods*
  • Esophagus
  • Female
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitroglycerin / therapeutic use
  • Nitroprusside / therapeutic use
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Artery / physiology
  • Stroke Volume / physiology
  • Systole / physiology*
  • Time Factors
  • Ventricular Function, Right / physiology*

Substances

  • Nitroprusside
  • Nitroglycerin