Cardiac function after open heart surgery: Relation between the performance of the two sides of the heart

Abstract

The relation between right and left atrial pressures and stroke volume and stroke work for both ventricles was investigated in the immediate postoperative period in nine patients after cardiac surgery. Low values for stroke index and stroke work index were found and little change occurred with alterations in atrial pressures. Isoprenaline caused significant increases in both indices and, together with its effect on heart rate, considerable rises in cardiac index and left ventricular stroke work index. The analysis of the simultaneous relation between the function of the two sides of the heart was found to be an important guide to patient management and cannot be predicted from the preoperative diagnosis after cardiopulmonary bypass.