Patient selection: pulmonary hypertension
Types of surgery associated with postoperative complications include:
(1) heart and lung transplantation
(2) pneumonectomy
(3) liver transplantation
Preoperative findings associated with postoperative complications:
(1) significant right ventricle dysfunction
(2) severe hypoxemia
Perioperative factors associated with postoperative complications:
(1) fluid resuscitation with hypervolemia
(2) hypothermia
(3) hypoxia
(4) withdrawal of vasodilators
(5) general anesthesic agents and/or sedatives
(6) spinal anesthesia (rapid sympatholytic effect with fall in blood pressure and/or bradycardia)
(7) hypovolemia and/or significant blood loss
(8) hypercarbia and/or acidosis
Complications may include:
(1) worsening of pulmonary hypertension
(2) right ventricular failure
(3) right ventricular ischemia
(4) hypotension
