Abstract
An increased venous capacity and a decreased myocardial contractility can be expected in patients with an acute spinal cord lesion at or above T6. Both factors may contribute to a high incidence of arterial hypotension and pulmonary oedema in these patients especially during anaesthesia.
We feel that the Swan-Ganz catheter provides valuable information concerning prevention, diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypotension and pulmonary oedema. Although there may be occasional difficulty in interpretation of measurements from the Swan-Ganz catheter if high airway pressures are used, it is a more sensitive monitor than C.V.P. measurement and is particularly useful in patients with a sympathectomy secondary to spinal cord trauma.
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Supported in part by Grant NS 10174 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke.
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Troll, G., Dohrmann, G. Anaesthesia of the spinal cord-injured patient: cardiovascular problems and their management. Spinal Cord 13, 162–171 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1975.27
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1975.27