title: Fluid responsiveness and right ventricular function in cardiac surgical patients. A multicenter study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated fluid responsiveness in a population of patients undergoing coronary artery revascularization, with respect to their right ventricular ejection fraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a multicenter trial involving 11 cardiac surgical Institutions and 65 patients undergoing elective coronary artery revascularization. Hemodynamic parameters were measured before and after volume expansion using a modified pulmonary artery catheter and transesophageal echocardiographic monitoring. Patients demonstrating an increase of stroke volume >20% after volume expansion were considered as responders. Volume expansion with 7 ml/kg of plasma expander was performed when required on a clinical basis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the overall population, only the change in aortic blood velocity (cut-off 13%) was a predictor of fluid responsiveness. In patients with a reduced (<0.3) right ventricular ejection fraction only the value of mean pulmonary arterial pressure was predictive of fluid responsiveness (cut-off 18 mmHg). Patients with right ventricular ejection fraction ≥0.3 demonstrated three predictors: changes in aortic blood velocity (cut-off 15%), right ventricular end diastolic volume index (cut-off 80 ml/m(2)), and left ventricular end diastolic area index (cut-off 9 cm(2)/m(2)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When right ventricular systolic function is depressed, the right ventricle inability to fill the left chambers results in a lack of the left-sided responsiveness predictors. When the right ventricular systolic function is preserved, all the classical fluid responsiveness predictors are confirmed. Right ventricular function is therefore to be always considered when addressing the problem of fluid responsiveness.
authors: Cardiothoracic Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Istituto Policlinico S. Donato, Milan.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ranucci
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Pazzaglia
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Tritapepe
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Guarracino
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lupo
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Salandin
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Del Sarto
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Condemi
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Campodonico
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Laudani
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Pittarello
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Belloni
authors: Ri Ve R Right Ventricle Research Group
keywords: Intensive care; Mechanical ventilation; cardiac surgery; fluid responsiveness; preload