Cardiac output during hemiarthroplasty of the hip

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Abstract
In a prospective, controlled study, we measured the effect on cardiac output of the introduction of methylmethacrylate during hemiarthroplasty for displaced fractures of the femoral neck. We treated 20 elderly patients who were similar in age, height, weight and preoperative left ventricular function with either cemented or uncemented hemiarthroplasty. Using a transoesophageal Doppler probe, we measured cardiac output before incision and at six stages of the procedure: during the surgical approach, reaming and lavage of the femoral canal, the introduction of cement, the insertion of the prosthesis, and in reduction and closure.