The hemodynamically unstable patient in the intensive care unit: hemodynamic vs. transesophageal echocardiographic monitoring.

Objective: Transesophageal echocardiography is a diagnostic and monitoring modality. The objectives of our study were to compare the diagnoses obtained with continuous transesophageal echocardiography and hemodynamic monitoring in the intensive care unit, to determine interobserver variability of diagnosis obtained with both modalities, and to evaluate its impact.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Treatment of pulmonary hypertension during surgery with nitric oxide and vasodilators.

Purpose: To describe the effects of the combination of several therapies on the pulmonary circulation and cardiac function in a patient with severe pulmonary hypertension.

Clinical Features: We report the case of a female patient with chronic secondary pulmonary hypertension and cardiac failure who underwent right hemicolectomy under general anesthesia. Insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter before the operation revealed pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) of 55/24 mm Hg which was lowered moderately by 40 parts per million (ppm) inhNO.