Appropriateness of transthoracic echocardiography in preoperative elective joint arthroplasty patients.

Elective joint arthroplasty is a commonly performed procedure with postoperative cardiovascular complications occurring in up to 3% of elderly patients. Preoperative cardiac evaluation, including transthoracic echocardiography, may improve risk stratification and optimise perioperative outcomes in patients having non-cardiac surgery.This study aimed to investigate the frequency, indications, appropriateness and consequences of preoperative transthoracic echocardiography in elective joint arthroplasty patients.

The cardiovascular effects of crystalloid administration in endoscopy patients.

Intravenous fluids are commonly administered for patients having colonoscopy despite relatively little data to support this practice. It is unclear what, if any, effect crystalloid administration has on stroke volume and cardiac output in patients who are fasting and have had bowel preparation agents. We aimed to assess the physiological effect of 10 ml/kg of crystalloid administration in colonoscopy patients on haemodynamic parameters including stroke volume, stroke volume variation and cardiac output, as measured with transthoracic echocardiography.

Focused Cardiac Ultrasound Determines Cause of Cardiovascular Collapse During Thoracic Surgery in a Patient With Undiagnosed Pulmonary Hypertension: A Case Report.

Patients with severe pulmonary hypertension (PHT) represent a high-risk population when undergoing noncardiac surgery. During thoracic surgery with 1-lung ventilation, atelectasis of the operative lung, and frequently associated hypoxemia, is likely to exacerbate PHT and precipitate acute right ventricular failure. We present a patient with previously undiagnosed PHT who suffered 2 cardiac arrests during emergent thoracic surgery for empyema.