CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF MIXED VENOUS OXY GEN-SATURATION DURING CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY

Mixed venous oxygen saturation (SVO2) is an haemodynamic parameter of cardiovascular function. The object of this study was to measure SVO2 during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with prol onged balloon inflation in order to evaluate haemodynamic tolerance mo re precisely in two groups of patients. Twenty-six patients undergoing PTCA were divided into two groups: Group I, N = 15, with single vesse l disease and good left ventricular function (EF: 61.63 +/- 10.1 %); G roup II, N = 11, with triple vessel disease and poor left ventricular function (EF: 48.05 +/- 14 %;p < 0.05). Continuous monitoring of SVO2 with an oximetrix fiber optic catheter was performed in all patients d uring PTCA. Irrespective of the duration of balloon inflation, a signi ficant correlation was observed between the changes in cardiac output and VSO2. Given that arterial oxygen pressure, global oxygen consumpti on and haemoglobin concentrations remained constant during balloon inf lation, SVO2 was an indicator of cardiac output.