Swan-Ganz catheter monitoring in neurosurgical patients: theoretical and practical aspects.

Theoretical and practical aspects of monitoring cardiac and blood volume status in neurosurgery patients are discussed. Groups of patients unique to neurosurgeons who might benefit from this approach include the following: those with intracranial hypertension; those undergoing blood volume expansion as a treatment for a variety of cerebrovascular disorders; and those with significant cardiovascular-respiratory problems undergoing high-risk or prolonged neurosurgical procedures. In addition, the generation of Starling-type ventrical function curves to be used in fluid management for blood volume expansion in the treatment of neurologic deficits associated with vasospasm is discussed.