title: Low cardiac output following cardiac surgery: critical thinking steps.
abstract: Patients often experience low cardiac output following cardiac surgery and as many as 90% of patients experience a decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and cardiac index (CI). Causes may vary from volume depletion to global myocardial dysfunction. Critical thinking skills, combined with diligent patient monitoring and a knowledge of cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology are required for prompt recognition and treatment of low cardiac output following cardiac surgery.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Eillis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003422:Critical Care; D003663:Decision Trees; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009736:Nursing Process; D013850:Thinking