@article {2148,
	title = {Perioperative alterations in plasma endothelin-1 and echocardiographic correlates of right heart function},
	journal = {Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia},
	volume = {14},
	number = {2},
	year = {2000},
	pages = {140-143},
	abstract = {OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether greater changes in plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations and right ventricular systolic pressure occur after major thoracic surgery than after major abdominal operations.
DESIGN:

Prospective study.
SETTING:

University hospital.
PARTICIPANTS:

Patients undergoing elective thoracotomies (n = 12) or laparotomies (n = 10).
INTERVENTIONS:

ET-1 was measured from blood obtained before anesthesia and again on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, and 5 (or 6). Transthoracic echocardiography was performed before surgery and on postoperative day 2 to evaluate right-sided heart function.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

After abdominal and thoracic surgery, systemic and estimated pulmonary vascular pressures were normal in both groups and unaffected by surgery. Plasma ET-1 concentrations decreased from baseline values during the first postoperative week with no differences between the groups.
CONCLUSIONS:

In patients without organic heart disease, plasma ET-1 levels do not increase in response to major abdominal or thoracic surgery. Whether or not plasma ET-1 concentrations are elevated in patients developing clinically significant postoperative pulmonary hypertension requires further study.},
	author = {D. Amar and M. Fleisher and D.H.Y. Leung and H. Zhang and Isaac Ginsburg and N. Roistacher}
}
