A prospective study of the pathophysiology of carcinoid crisis.

Background: Sudden massive release of serotonin, histamine, kallikrein, and bradykinin is postulated to cause an intraoperative carcinoid crisis. The exact roles of each of these possible agents, however, remain unknown. Optimal treatment will require an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of the carcinoid crisis.

Right Ventricular Systolic Performance Determined by 2D Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography and Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiac Surgery.

Objective: An association between central venous pressure and acute kidney injury (AKI) has been observed following cardiac surgery, but it is unknown whether this reflects intravascular volume status or impaired right ventricular (RV) myocardial performance. This study was performed to test the hypothesis that decreased RV peak longitudinal strain (PLSS), as measured by 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography, is associated with AKI following cardiac surgery.

Design: Retrospective observational cohort study.