CJA
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a scholarly reply
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Norman, P. H.
Right arrow Articles by Mycyk, T.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Norman, P. H.
Right arrow Articles by Mycyk, T.

Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 36, 470-472, Copyright © 1989 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

ARTICLES

Dissection of ascending thoracic aorta complicated by cardiac tamponade

PH Norman and T Mycyk
Department of Anaesthesia, Toronto General Hospital, Ontario.

Two cases of cardiac tamponade caused by dissections of the ascending thoracic aorta are described. Despite uneventful induction of anaesthesia one patient exsanguinated following sternotomy and release of pericardial tamponade as the resulting increase in blood pressure caused aortic rupture. The second patient was managed with femoral-femoral bypass, propranolol and vasodilators prior to sternotomy to avoid this complication, and he survived. The anaesthetic management of a patient with cardiac tamponade is directed towards maintaining cardiac filling pressures and contractility. When the tamponade is released the sudden increase in cardiac output and blood pressure may cause the already weakened aorta to rupture.




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1989 by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.