Routine SvO2 measurement after CABG surgery with a surgically introduced pulmonary artery catheter

Objective: It has been argued that the poor correlation between cardiac output and mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO(2)) reduces the value of SvO(2). Routine use of Swan Ganz catheters is also controversial in cardiac surgery. Here our clinical experience with a simplified method for routine hemodynamic monitoring and the short-term prognostic value of SvO(2) after CABG surgery is presented. Method: Peroperatively an epidural catheter is routinely introduced through the outflow tract of the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery for monitoring of pressure and blood sampling. Clinical data were retrospectively retrieved from the records and related to SvO(2) routinely obtained on admission to the ICU after 488 CABG procedures. Results: Average SvO(2) on arrival to ICU was 67 +/- 7%. The SvO(2) value of 55% represented a cut off point below which a high incidence of complications were found. Outcome after 456 procedures with SvO(2) greater than or equal to 55% compared with 32 procedures with SvO(2) < 55%: mortality 0 vs. 9.4% (P = 0.0003), perioperative myocardial infarction 6.2 vs. 29% (P < 0.0001), ventilator treatment 8.9 +/- 10.1 vs. 25.7 +/- 54.9 h (P = 0.0074), ICU stay 1.4 +/- 1.2 vs. 2.1 +/- 1.7 days (P = 0.0010). Conclusions: SvO(2) was of prognostic value and due to its specificity it seems particularly useful for telling which patients are unlikely to develop cardiorespiratory problems. Thus, this simple method for hemodynamic monitoring could contribute to cost containment as it seems that we can safely reserve Swan Ganz catheters for high-risk patients. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.