Abstract
Among a large group of patients who underwent either carotid endarterectomy or extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass were 13 patients who had cardiopulmonary monitoring performed by a dye dilution technique either with or without a thermodilution Swan-Ganz catheter. Each patient had at least two significant medical problems that were thought to place him or her at increased risk. The usefulness of this monitoring approach in the perioperative management of these patients is demonstrated by several clinical examples. No patient sustained myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, or new neurological deficit during the perioperative period. Our experience suggests that high risk patients can safely undergo either carotid endarterectomy or EC-IC bypass provided that careful attention is paid to myocardial function and the state of hydration.
Latex Allergy: Overview and Recommendations for the Perioperative Management of High-Risk Patients
