The Utility of Echocardiography for the Prediction of Spinal-Induced Hypotension in Elderly Patients: Inferior Vena Cava Assessment Is a Key Player.

Objectives: To prospectively assess the diagnostic performance of echocardiographic measurements before spinal anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing lower limb surgery. Emphasis was placed on the dIVCmax-to-IVCCI ratio and IVCCI, where dIVCmax was the maximum diameter of inferior vena cava (IVC) at expiration and IVCCI was the collapsibility index of IVC.

Design: Open cohort, prospective, single-center study.