Volume loading and vasodilators in abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy.

Preoperative infusion of volume to increase the wedge pressure will maintain stable flow and arterial pressure at the time of aortic declamping. Usually 1,500 ml of balanced salt solution given with 75 g of albumin is sufficient to accomplish this purpose. Pressor or inotropic agents are not required. In our experience 14 percent of patients will have a down-slope in the preoperative myocardial performance curves. In these persons, volume infusions should be adjusted to keep the pulmonary arterial wedge pressure on the ascending portion of the curve. The use of vasodilator agents in normotensive patients has a deleterious effect on cardiac performance.