Hypoxemia after myocardial revascularization: analysis of risk factors.

Background And Objectives: Severe hypoxemia is complication frequently seen in the immediate postoperative period of myocardial revascularization (MR), increasing the duration of mechanical ventilation, the incidence of pulmonary infections, hospital costs, and mortality. The objective of this study was to identify predictive factors of severe hypoxemia in patients undergoing MR.

Methods: Four-hundred and eighty-one adult patients undergoing elective MR between October 2003 and March 2004 were enrolled in this study.

Comparison between intermittent and continuous measurement of cardiac output after acute normovolemic hemodilution in pigs.

Continuous cardiac output (CO) and mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) determined through the pulmonary artery catheter may be helpful in monitoring hemodynamic conditions in critically ill patients. This study aimed to evaluate CO and SvO2 in a model of acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH), analyzing the accuracy of the continuous versus intermittent method for CO and SvO2 measurement in pigs. Twenty-three pigs were enrolled to three groups: control, ANH with 6% hydroxyethyl starch (HES), or ANH with lactated Ringer's (LR) solution.

[Perioperative hypothermia.].

Background And Objectives: Perioperative hypothermia is a common event, however seldom diagnosed and treated. Hypothermia may be beneficial or noxious for the patient depending on specific situations and procedures. This paper is a literature review of hypothermia indications and complications, as well as its diagnosis, prevention and treatment.