ARTERIAL BLOOD-PRESSURE AND PULSE-RATE RESPONSES TO PULMONARY AND RADIAL ARTERIAL CATHETERIZATION PRIOR TO CARDIAC AND MAJOR VASCULAR OPERATIONS

Placement of pulmonary or radial arterial catheters in unanesthetized patients produces significant increases in systolic arterial blood pressure and heart rate in patients who have a variety of cardiovascular diseases. The findings indicate that in patients who have coronary-artery disease and are not receiving propranolol these changes may be severe enough to produce angina. The data indicate that invasive monitoring in patients with CAD not taking propranolol should be minimized or performed after a reasonable depth of anesthesia is established.