Tasty Morsels of Critical Care Tasty Morsels of Critical Care 060 | The post cardiac surgery patient
8 snips
Apr 4, 2022 This podcast explores the significance of post-cardiac surgery in the ICU and the management of these patients. It discusses key information gathering during handover process, monitoring drains, assessing abnormalities, fluid resuscitation, surgical bleeding, tamponade, imaging for diagnosis, management of atrial fibrillation, and leaving the pericardium open to reduce post-op fibrillation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Predictability Of Cardiac Surgical Workload
- Cardiac surgery units gain predictability from frequent, scheduled post-op admissions and well-studied outcomes.
- Use that predictability to structure ICU workflow and expectations for case mix and performance review.
Get These Essentials During Theatre Handover
- During theatre handover, explicitly elicit pre-op ventricular function, what grafts/repairs were done, bypass/cross-clamp times, and current plumbing.
- Also clarify rhythm/pacing needs, post-op TOE findings, and blood products/reversal status before accepting the patient.
Confirm Separation From Bypass And Support
- Confirm how separation from bypass went and what vasoactive or inotropic support the patient requires on arrival.
- Check pacing leads, backup pacing settings, and whether extubation is being anticipated or deferred.