Pulmonary Artery Catheters in Cardiac Surgery

This chapter explores the role and effectiveness of pulmonary artery catheters in cardiac surgery, highlighting their declining use in low-risk patients despite continuous monitoring benefits. It discusses intensive care management post-surgery, focusing on the nuances of fluid resuscitation, laboratory testing, and minimizing invasiveness in monitoring practices. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding metabolic acidosis causes and critiques traditional methodologies like routine chest x-rays in favor of advanced techniques.