Evaluation of the effectiveness of phenylephrine in hypotension management in anesthesia for cardiac surgery using extracorporeal circulation

Background: Phenylephrine is a vasoconstrictor often chosen to raise blood pressure during induction of anesthesia. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of phenylephrine in hypotension treatment in anesthesia for cardiac surgery using extracorporeal circulation. Methods: Descriptive study and evaluation of phenylephrine response in 40 cardiac surgery patients using extracorporeal circulation. Results: During the induction phase, phenylephrine increased mean arterial blood pressure the most at time T2 (mean mean ∆BP was 26.2 ± 6.9), then the trend gradually decreased and remained within normal limits (p<0.05). The mean number of intravenous injections of phenylephrine during the induction period was 1.1 ± 0.3 times, the mean dose of phenylephrine used was 0.9 ± 0.3 µg/kg. During the extracorporeal circulation phase, phenylephrine increased mean blood pressure early, and persistently, peaking at T5 (mean ∆HATB of 17.4 ± 3.6 mmHg). The mean number of intravenous injections of phenylephrine during the extracorporeal circulation phase was 1 time, the mean dose of phenylephrine used was 0.8 ± 0.3 µg/kg. Conclusion: Phenylephrine is used effectively with a small number of injections and a moderate dose when treating hypotension in anesthesia for cardiac surgery using extracorporeal circulation.