[HSF] Inotropes, ventricular fibrillation and myocardial protection

[Hgrmd at aol.com]

Bob,
  Great post.  We all agree that VF on the street is bad.   However, I think 
we can also agree that transient VF during the course of most  cardiac 
operations usually does no perceptible harm.  It all depends on the  conditions.  VF 
for 20 minutes in a tensely distended LV is every cardiac  surgeon's 
nightmare.  However, VF in a flaccid heart that lasts for less  than a minute and is 
permanently cured with one shock is more than likely of no  significance.
  Do you collect cards and letters from families?  I do.  I  figure it will 
make me realize the worth of what I did once I'm retired.   Last Wednesday, I 
got a beautifully scripted letter from a little old lady who  had just reached 
her 90th birthday.  She related how she was leading an  active symptom free 
life. I pulled her chart and saw that I had done a  mitral repair and several 
grafts on her 4 years previously.  I know all of  us have tons of similar 
stories.  That's the one thing the feds can't take  from us.
 
Hal



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