Vacuum-assisted venous drainage (VAVD) is a technique used to increase venous return during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, VAVD has created some new safety concerns. One potential problem is the pressurization of the venous reservoir in the event of vacuum failure. To prevent this overpressurization, a positive pressure release valve (PPRV) is placed on the venous reservoir. The purpose...

To determine the role of the pericardium in man, ventricular function was studied in 20 patients who underwent pericardiotomy during coronary artery bypass surgery. Left and right ventricular function curves were generated before and after pericardiotomy by changing body position to alter venous pressure. Central venous (0--14 mm Hg) and pulmonary wedge pressures (1--25 mm Hg) ranged over norma...

Cardiac catheterization data from 54 investigations after Mustard's procedure were examined to study the influence of the operation on pressure events in the atria, great veins, and pulmonary circulation. Systemic venous atrial pressure tracings were characterized by a rapid, sharp 'y' descent. Pressure gradients between the venae cavae and systemic venous atrium were invariable, whether or not...

Superior sagittal sinus pressure, intracranial pressure and arterial pressure were recorded in an experimental series on 10 cats. During drug-induced, severe, acute arterial hypertension and parallel hypercapnia, venous pressure could exceed intracranial pressure in both the supra- and infratentorial compartment. From these data it is concluded that cerebral venous pressure during acute arteria...

Acute ischemic stroke therapy emphasizes early arterial clot lysis or removal. Partial aortic occlusion has recently emerged as an alternative hemodynamic approach to augment cerebral perfusion in acute ischemic stroke. The exact mechanism of cerebral flow augmentation with partial aortic occlusion remains unclear and may involve more than simple diversion of arterial blood flow from the lower ...

Many ectotherms regularly experience considerable short-term variations in environmental temperature, which affects their body temperature. Here we investigate the cardiovascular responses to a stepwise acute temperature increase from 10 to 13 and 16 degrees C in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Cardiac output increased by 20 and 31% at 13 and 16 degrees C, respectively. This increase was e...