Bedside assessment of passive leg raising effects on venous return.

Objective: Passive leg raising (PLR) provides a reversible fluid-loading challenge and can be used to predict fluid responsiveness. The amount of blood volume recruited by this maneuver called stressed volume (Vs) is unknown. The present study aims to assess the quantitative effects of passive leg raising on venous return at bedside.

Transpulmonary thermodilution in a pediatric patient with an intracardiac left-to-right shunt.

Monitoring of cardiac output (CO) in the perioperative period and in seriously ill pediatric patients is of major importance for medical management. Hemodynamic monitoring, using transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD) via a single thermal indicator injection, allows for measurements of CO, volumetric variables and extravascular lung water (EVLW). We describe and explain the influence of a left-to-right shunt on TPTD curve characteristics and EVLW measurements in a young child undergoing a surgical atrial septal defect repair.

Does the Pleth variability index indicate the respiratory-induced variation in the plethysmogram and arterial pressure waveforms?

Background: Respiratory variations in the pulse oximeter plethysmographic waveform amplitude (deltaPOP) are sensitive to changes in preload and can predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients. However, they cannot be easily calculated from a bedside monitor. Pleth variability index (PVI, Masimo Corp.

Ability of pleth variability index to detect hemodynamic changes induced by passive leg raising in spontaneously breathing volunteers.

Introduction: Pleth Variability Index (PVI) is a new algorithm that allows continuous and automatic estimation of respiratory variations in the pulse oximeter waveform amplitude. Our aim was to test its ability to detect changes in preload induced by passive leg raising (PLR) in spontaneously breathing volunteers.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study.

Time course and prognostic value of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide concentration in neonates undergoing the arterial switch operation.

Background: Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) can predict postoperative complications after cardiac surgery in adults. Our aim was to investigate BNP kinetics and prognostic value in neonates undergoing the arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA).

Methods: We measured BNP concentrations in 30 neonates before, immediately after, and 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after ASO for TGA.