[Anaesthesia and intensive care for cardiac surgery in France: results of the three days national survey realised in 2001 by the club of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Technics in Cardiac Surgery (ARTECC)].

Objectives: Ageing of the surgical population and the evolution in anaesthetic techniques have led the Club d'anesthésie-réanimation et techniques en chirurgie cardiaque (ARTECC) to conduct a survey among French cardiac surgery centers. The aim was to profile patient population undergoing cardiac surgery and perioperative techniques employed.

Study: National prospective study including all adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery on January 23rd, 24th and 25th, 2001.

[Use of oral sildenafil (Viagra) in pulmonary hypertension after cardiac pediatric surgery].

Pulmonary hypertension remains a major cause of morbidity after cardiac surgery, although inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) was shown to have clinical benefit. Some patients are dependent on iNO, increasing the length of hospital stay. The authors report a case of a girl, nine years old (17 kg), with mitral insufficiency, atrial septal defect and pulmonary hypertension (80% of systemic pressure).