Evaluation of Hemodynamic Changes of the Left Ventricle Following the Use of Extracorporeal Circulation

Hemodynamic data routinely collected and data collected by means of the placement of a Pressure/Volume Combination Catheter (Pressure/Volume Combination Catheter,Leycom,The Netherlands) will be collected simultaneously. The catheter will be placed and held in place as long as the patient is in a position to be assisted by extracorporeal circulation. This means that the placement of the catheter will follow the heparinization of the patient and the placement of the cannulas necessary for the realization of extracorporal circulation. It will be removed from the left ventricular cavity before removal of extra-corporal cannulas.

A complete transthoracic echocardiography will be performed the day before the surgical procedure, as per standard of care. It will establish the presence of the inclusion and exclusion criteria and evaluate the contractile function of the left ventricle. This will be done using a Philips IE33 echocardiograph (Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Netherlands).

A transesophageal echocardiogram will be performed during the cardiac surgery, as per standard of care, using an Acuson Sequoia system (Siemens AG, Germany). It will facilitate the placement of the pressure/volume combination catheter and collect echographic data.