Intraoperative contrast echocardiography with intravenous Optison does notcause hemodynamic changes during cardiac surgery

Background: The echocardiographic contrast agent Optison may be useful in p atients undergoing cardiac surgery. This study investigates its effects on hemodynamics, cardiac performance, and oxygenation in this group of patient s. Methods: Parameters of hemodynamic stability, cardiac performance, and oxyg enation were measured in 57 patients by transesophageal echocardiography, e lectrocardiography, invasive arterial blood pressure and central venous pre ssure monitoring, capnography, pulsoximetry, and pulmonary artery catheter before and 5 and 10 minutes after an intravenous bolus of 0.3 mi. of Optiso n. Results: No statistically significant differences in ST-segment changes, he art rate, arterial and central venous pressure, peripheral oxygen saturatio n, cardiac index, left ventricular ejection fraction, and regional wall mot ion were seen 5 and 10 minutes after injection of Optison compared with bas eline parameters. Conclusions: Optison did not cause clinically important changes in paramete rs of hemodynamic stability, cardiac performance, and oxygenation in our pa tients. The intraoperative use of intravenous Optison appears to be safe in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, including in the use of cardiopulmona ry bypass.