Arterial Stiffness and Hemodynamics in Cardiac Surgery

Background: Hypotension during the induction of anesthesia is a significant clinical condition associated with increased perioperative morbidity and mortality. This study aims to evaluate whether hypotension occurring during anesthesia induction can be predicted using arterial stiffness and stiffness index parameters measured by ultrasonography. Additionally, the study investigates potential associations between arterial stiffness parameters and intraoperative hemodynamic variables, vasoactive drug use, length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit (ICU), and mortality. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in patients scheduled for elective open cardiac surgery. The predictive value of arterial stiffness, measured by ultrasonography, for identifying hypotension during anesthesia induction was assessed. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and stiffness index (β index) were used as indicators of arterial stiffness.