The use of Beta-blockers in perioperative medicine has been an issue of intense research in Anaesthesia. Patients that are believed to benefit from beta-blockers are those with risk factors for ischaemic heart disease (HT, DM, hypercholesterolaemia, previous MI, angina, controlled heart failure)
Atrial Natriuretic Peptide isolated from the right atrium potent diuretic/natriuretic effect on kidney + vasodilator effects on resistance & capacitance of blood vessels released in response to atrial stretching (ie. fluid overload)
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained dysrhythmia and is characterised by disorganised atrial electrical activity and contraction resulting in an "irregularly irregular" ventricular response ("fibrillation waves")
An approach to arrhythmia, causes, classification and factors contributing to arrhythmogenesis
Arrhythmia Literature Summaries
Reviewed and revised 12/6/12 Afterload = left ventricular wall tension required to overcome resistance to ejection (impedance to ejection of blood from the heart into the arterial circulation). developed as ventricular muscle fibres shorten during isovolumetric contraction & ejection phases…
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred emergency reperfusion strategy in most cases of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)
Coronary artery disease accounts for > 30% of death in West and presents acutely as acute coronary syndromes. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a catch all term that refers to ischemic symptoms resulting from acute coronary occlusion
Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) Literature Summaries
Open Chest Management (OCM) and Delayed Sternal Closure (DSC) is used following 1-4% of surgical procedures involving cardiotomy in adults, and more commonly in paediatrics
AHA/ACC Guidelines (2007) – Perioperative Cardiovascular Evaluation of the Patient undergoing Non-cardiac Surgery Take Home Message = if assessment and evaluation not indicated irrespective of perioperative context then just crack on (its all about symptoms). 3 factors involved in risk…
Emergent Valve Disorders: regurgitation most common; acute or acute on chronic valve dysfunction; acute on chronic often precipitated by increase in metabolic or haemodynamic requirements (sepsis, bleeding, pregnancy).