Prognostic value of serum myoglobin in patients after cardiac surgery.

Purpose: Serum myoglobin as a marker of myocardial damage and injury has been shown to be of prognostic value in patients with cardiovascular events. In this study, we analyzed the prognostic value of serum myoglobin in comparison to other parameters of muscle damage and renal function in patients after cardiac surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 373 cardiac surgical patients (mean age, 66 +/- 10 years; range, 30-88 years) by using the highest levels of serum myoglobin, creatinine, and creatine phosphokinase (CK) within the first 24 h after admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Increasing cardiac output by epinephrine after cardiac surgery: effects on indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate and splanchnic microcirculation.

Objective: The effects of increasing cardiac output by epinephrine on indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate (ICG-PDR) and gastric mucosal PCO(2) (P(R)CO(2)) were studied as indicators of splanchnic microcirculation.

Design: A prospective clinical study.

Setting: Intensive care unit of a university hospital.