Hemoconcentration induced by surface hypothermia in infants.

The effects of surface hypothermia (25 degrees C) on arterial hematocrit value (by microcentrifuge) and plasma protein concentration (by refractometry) were studied in infants undergoing surface cooling for cardiac operations. To analyze in detail the mechanisms leading to the observed changes in patients, we performed parallel studies on normal dogs and permanently splenectomized dogs. In these dogs, measurements were also made of plasma volume (by 125I-albumin) and red cell volume (by 51Cr-erythrocytes). Arterial hematocrit value increased progressively during surface cooling in infants. Assuming that red cell volume remained constant and that the ratio of whole body red cell percentage to arterial hematocrit value during surface cooling in infants as in splenectomized dogs, we estimated percent changes in plasma volume in infants from arterial hematocrit data. The computed plasma volume decreased progressively as the body temperature was decreased. Since plasma protein concentration remained constant, the loss of plasma volume suggested a sequestration of whole plasma in portions of the circulatory bed and/or an extravasation of whole plasma into the interstitial space.

Acute hemodynamic alterations after mitral valve replacement with the glutaraldehyde-treated porcine heterograft prosthesis.

Perioperative hemodynamic changes following mitral valve replacement using the porcine heterograft prosthesis were measured in 21 patients with acquired mitral valve disease. Preoperatively, a state of compensatory cardiac failure was suggested by the following: an increased heart rate (HR) (96 beats per minute); low cardiac and stroke volume (SVI) indices (2.3 +/- 0.10 L/min/m2 and 25 +/- 2 ml/beat/m2); and increased systemic vascular resistance (SVR) (1,626 +/- 116 DYNE SEC CM-5). Bothe the mean pulmonary artery PAP) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures (PCWP) were elevated as well (32 +/- 3 and 22 +/- 2 torr). Immediate hemodynamic improvement followed valve replacement. HR, SVR, PAP, and PCWP all decreased significantly. Twenty-four hours after valve replacement, PAP (23 +/- 1 torr) and PCWP (13 +/- 1 torr) demonstrated marked declines, SVR was reduced by one-third (1,173 +/- 87 dyne sec cm-5), HR had decreased by 10 beats per minute, and SVI had increased to 30 +/- 2 ml/beat/m2. The prompt circulatory improvement of patients soon after mitral valve replacement using the porcine heterograft compares favorably with studies in which other valve types were employed and in which postoperative cardiovascular depression was encountered frequently.

Acute hemodynamic alterations after aortic valve replacement with the glutaraldehyde-treated porcine heterograft prosthesis.

Twenty-two patients underwent aortic valve replacement for acquired valvular heart disease with the porcine heterograft prosthesis. In the immediate postoperative period, a transient decrease in the cardiac index (CI) (preoperative 3.0 +/- 0.14 to 2.45 +/- 0.16 L. per minute per square meter, p less than 0.05) and an increase in the systemic vascular resistance (SVR) (preoperative 1,078 +/- 62 to 1,287 +/- 103) dynes/sec./cm.-5, p greater 0.05) were seen; these values returned to preoperative levels by the first postoperative day. After valve replacement, an elevation in the heart rate (HR) (preoperative 75 +/- 2 to 87 +/- 4 beats per minute, p less than 0.05) and a reduction in the stroke volume (SV) and stroke work index (SWI) (preoperative 35 +/- 2 to 26 +/- 2 Gm.-M. per square meter, p less than 0.05) occurred which persisted throughout the study. The endocardial viability ration (EVR) increased after valve replacement. These findings suggest that, following aortic valve replacement, (1) an increase HR is the mechanism utilized to maintain cardiac output, (2) subendocardial perfusion is enhanced as indicated by an increase in the EVR, and (3) the hemodynamic alterations following insertion of the porcine heterograft prosthesis are not different from those observed when other valves are placed in similar patient populations.