Goal-directed fluid management reduces vasopressor and catecholamine use in cardiac surgery patients.

Objective: We examined whether guiding therapy by an algorithm based on optimizing the global end-diastolic volume index (GEDVI) reduces the need for vasopressor and inotropic support and helps to shorten ICU stay in cardiac surgery patients.

Design And Setting: Single-center clinical study with a historical control group at an university hospital.

Patients: Forty cardiac bypass surgery patients were included prospectively and compared with a control group.

Influence of tidal volume on left ventricular stroke volume variation measured by pulse contour analysis in mechanically ventilated patients.

Objective: Real-time measurement of stroke volume variation by arterial pulse contour analysis (SVV) is useful in predicting volume responsiveness and monitoring volume therapy in mechanically ventilated patients. This study investigated the influence of the depth of tidal volume (V(t)) on SVV both during the state of fluid responsiveness and after fluid loading in mechanically ventilated patients.

Design And Setting: Prospective study in a university hospital, adult cardiac surgery intensive care unit.