Current use of the pulmonary artery catheter in cardiac surgery: a survey study.

Objective: Because of its invasive nature, debated effect on patient outcome, and the development of alternative hemodynamic monitoring technologies, the intraoperative use of the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) has significantly decreased. The authors conducted a survey of the members of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) to assess current use of the PAC and alternative hemodynamic monitoring technologies in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Design: A survey study.

Modeling the effects of midazolam on cortical and thalamic neurons.

Controversy exists regarding the site where anesthetics act in the brain to produce sedation and unconsciousness. Actions in the cerebral cortex and thalamus are likely, although the relative importance of each site is unclear. We used in computo modeling to investigate the sensitivity of cortical and thalamic neurons to midazolam (MDZ) at concentrations that produce unconsciousness.