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Plasma ionized calcium during open-heart surgery

Anaesthesia
|March 1, 1985
PubMed

Insights

Plasma ionized calcium levels remained stable during cardiopulmonary bypass in open heart surgery patients. Post-bypass, ionized calcium varied but did not clearly impact heart function, with influencing factors discussed.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Anesthesiology
  • Clinical Chemistry

Background:

  • Maintaining electrolyte balance is crucial during cardiac surgery.
  • Ionized calcium plays a vital role in myocardial contractility and cardiac function.
  • Cardiopulmonary bypass can alter various physiological parameters, including calcium levels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate plasma ionized calcium concentrations in patients during and after open heart surgery.
  • To assess the relationship between ionized calcium levels and myocardial performance in the post-bypass period.
  • To explore factors that may influence ionized calcium levels in this surgical context.

Main Methods:

  • Measurement of plasma ionized calcium in 18 patients undergoing open heart surgery.
  • Monitoring ionized calcium levels during cardiopulmonary bypass.
  • Assessing ionized calcium concentrations in the early post-bypass phase.
  • Evaluating myocardial performance in relation to calcium levels.

Main Results:

  • Plasma ionized calcium concentration showed no significant change during cardiopulmonary bypass.
  • A broad spectrum of ionized calcium concentrations was observed in the early post-bypass period.
  • These observed variations in ionized calcium did not appear to overtly affect myocardial performance.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiopulmonary bypass itself does not significantly alter plasma ionized calcium levels.
  • Post-cardiac surgery, ionized calcium levels can fluctuate widely without immediate detrimental effects on heart function.
  • Further investigation is warranted into the specific factors influencing ionized calcium dynamics in the post-bypass surgical setting.

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