title: Passive leg raising during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if passive leg raising (PLR) significantly increases cardiac output in a cohort of healthy pregnant women during the third trimester.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a noninvasive monitor, baseline hemodynamic measurements for arterial blood pressure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, cardiac index, stroke volume, and systemic vascular resistances were obtained with patients in the semirecumbent position. Measurements were repeated after a 3-minute PLR maneuver in supine, right lateral decubitus, and left lateral decubitus positions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 10 minutes of bed rest, the cohort's mean baseline heart rate was 80 ± 12 beats/minute. Baseline stroke volume was 98 ± 14 mL, mean cardiac output was 7.8 ± 1.2 L/min, and mean cardiac index was 4.32 ± 0.63 L/min. The baseline systemic vascular resistance value was 893 ± 160 dynes/sec/cm(5). Baseline mean arterial blood pressure was 84 ± 11 mm Hg. Following a PLR maneuver in the supine position, heart rate decreased significantly. No difference was noted in other measurements. Findings were similar with PLR in the left lateral decubitus. PLR in the right lateral decubitus resulted in significantly decreased heart rate, cardiac output, and cardiac index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PLR did not result in cardiac output recruitment in a cohort of healthy pregnant women during the third trimester.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: Nicole Ribeiro
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinello
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: Maged M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Costantine
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: Rakesh B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Vadhera
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Saade
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: Gary D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Hankins
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
authors.forename: Luis D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Pacheco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002302:Cardiac Output; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006339:Heart Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D056888:Patient Positioning; D011187:Posture; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume; D014655:Vascular Resistance