Cardiothoracic & vascular anesthesia
The Use of Pulmonary Artery Catheters and Echocardiography in the Cardiac Surgery Setting: A Nationwide Italian Survey
Authors' conclusion
Variability in the use of PACs and echocardiography was found. Protocols regulating the use of PACs seem infrequent. University centers use PACs less and have greater skills in TEE.
Study context
- Population
- Anesthesiologists-intensivists in Italian cardiac surgery centers59 of 71 centers
- Participants
- 257 participants
- Outcome
- Use of pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) and echocardiography in OR and ICU
Methodological detailsnational survey, anonymous questionnaires
- National survey
- Anonymous questionnaires
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Respondent response rate
- 32.2%
- Center response rate
- 83.1%
- Median PAC insertion in OR (% of patients)
- 20% [5-70]
- Protocols regulating PAC insertion, OR
- 25.3%
- Protocols regulating PAC insertion, intensive care unit (ICU)
- 28%
- Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in >75% of patients
- 86.4%
- Intraoperative TEE relied on anesthesiologists
- 23.7%
- Tissue Doppler available
- 87.4%
- 3D imaging available
- 82%
- Self-declared skills in tissue Doppler
- 37.8%
- Self-declared skills in 3D imaging
- 24.3%
- No echocardiography certification, nor pursuing it
- 77.1%
- No recent echocardiography courses
- 40.9%
- Lower PAC use with university hospitals (OR)
- p = 0.014
- Lower PAC use with university hospitals (ICU)
- p = 0.032
- Lower PAC use with lower interventions/year (OR)
- p = 0.023
- Higher TEE independence in university hospitals (OR)
- p < 0.001
- Higher TEE independence in university hospitals (ICU)
- p = 0.006
- Higher TEE independence in centers with higher interventions/year (OR)
- p = 0.019
- Higher TEE independence in respondents with less experience in cardiology (ICU)
- p = 0.046
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
The Use of Pulmonary Artery Catheters and Echocardiography in the Cardiac Surgery Setting: A Nationwide Italian Survey. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. Published 27 April 2024. doi:10.
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