The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 85, 856-863, Copyright © 1983 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Respiratory gas exchange before and after cardiac operations
IH Abdul-Rasool and JH Chamberlain
The changes in oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production were
measured both before and for 6 hours after a variety of cardiac operations.
Core and peripheral temperatures were measured simultaneously. Oxygen
consumption was initially similar to preoperative values but rose over the
next 2.5 hours by an average of 31% above basal. Carbon dioxide production
was initially higher than preoperative values, then declined briefly, and
finally showed an average increase above basal of 29%. Core temperature
rose from an initially slightly depressed level to a maximal level 4 hours
postoperatively at an average rate of 0.4 degrees C/hr. It was not possible
to separate cause and effect between the temperature and oxygen consumption
increases, but more effective postoperative temperature control might limit
metabolic demands at a critical time postoperatively.
