Effect of opening the pericardium on right ventricular hemodynamics during cardiac surgery

The impact of the pericardium on right ventricular performance in the presence of normal filling pressures was evaluated using a rapid response RVEF thermodilution pulmonary artery catheter and TEE. In eight patients with normal right coronary arteries undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, hemodynamic measurements revealed increased right ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes with diminished RVEF after opening the pericardium. In eight additional patients with right coronary artery disease, directionally similar changes in right ventricular volume were seen. Ejection fraction, however, was unchanged possibly due to altered right ventricular compliance. Echocardiogram evaluation of right ventricular area changes in patients with compromised right coronary systems corresponded to ejection fraction determinations obtained with thermodilution technique.