Benefits of perioperative hemodynamic monitoring in coronary patients

During 1987-1991, 78 coronary patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for noncardiac surgery. 40 were under invasive hemodynamic monitoring and treatment before operation (group A) and 38 were only admitted to the ICU postoperatively, since ICU beds were not available before surgery (group B). The overall incidence of the perioperative complications, ischemic heart, myocardial infarction and cardiac arrhythmias was significantly higher in group B than in group A (p < 0.01). 5% of group A and 11% of group B died in the ICU postoperatively. These data indicate the importance of preoperative hemodynamic and cardiac monitoring and treatment in coronary patients.