Single transpulmonary thermodilution and continuous monitoring of central venous oxygen saturation during off-pump coronary surgery.

Background: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) requires thorough monitoring of hemodynamics and oxygen transport. Our aim was to find out whether therapeutic guidance during and after OPCAB, using an algorithm based on advanced monitoring, influences perioperative hemodynamic and fluid management as well as the length of post-operative ICU and hospital stay.

Methods: Patients were randomized into two groups of hemodynamic monitoring: the conventional monitoring (CM) group (n=20) and the advanced monitoring (AM) group (n=20).

Single transpulmonary thermodilution in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: haemodynamic changes and effects of different anaesthetic techniques.

Background: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) can be associated with severe cardiovascular changes, thus requiring advanced haemodynamic monitoring. Our aim was to investigate the feasibility of transpulmonary single thermodilution (STD) combined with pulse-contour analysis, a newly introduced method for cardiovascular monitoring, for assessment of changes in haemodynamics during different anaesthetic techniques in OPCAB.

Methods: Thirty-six patients scheduled for elective OPCAB were randomized to receive anaesthesia either with midazolam, propofol or isoflurane, in addition to fentanyl and pipecuronium.