title: Transatrial access for left atrial pressure monitoring in cardiac surgery patients.
abstract: We describe a simple method for left atrial pressure (LAP) monitoring from the right to the left atrium (LA) by a central line catheter. The anesthesiologist cannulates vena jugularis interna and inserts two central line catheters. One catheter is placed in the vena cava superior and the second single-lumen catheter is placed in the right atrium. The surgeon positions a one-line catheter from the right in the LA during the transatrial surgical procedure. This new access diminishes bleeding complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Cardiac Surgery, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zahorec
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holoman
mesh_terms: D016279:Atrial Function, Left / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015924:Blood Pressure Monitors; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006325:Heart Atria; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology