Effect of site of venous protamine administration, previously alleged risk factors, and preoperative use of aspirin on acute protamine-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Objective: To determine whether the incidence of protamine-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction (PIPV) is influenced by central venous versus peripheral venous infusion of protamine and whether aspirin ingestion within a week of surgery would decrease the incidence of PIPV.

Design: Single-institution, prospective, observational, randomized trial.

Setting: University teaching hospital.

Comparison of thermodilution bolus cardiac output and Doppler cardiac output in the early post-cardiopulmonary bypass period.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of measuring cardiac output (CO) in the early post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) period by comparing thermodilution with Doppler methods.

Design: Prospective and blinded human trial.

Setting: Academic medical center.

Precardiopulmonary bypass right ventricular function is associated with poor outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Unlabelled: Patients with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have an increased risk for morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of pre-CABG right ventricular (RV) function with outcome for patients with severe LVSD. We performed a retrospective evaluation of 41 patients with severe LVSD (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] < or =25%) scheduled for nonemergent CABG.

Transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation of native aortic valve area: utility of the double-envelope technique.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of aortic valve area (AVA) calculations using the continuity equation with data obtained from the double envelope (DE) (simultaneously obtained left ventricular outflow tract [V1]) and aortic valve [V2] velocities) during intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Design: Prospective study; measurements were performed on-line.

Setting: University hospital.