Low cardiac output following cardiac surgery: critical thinking steps.

Patients often experience low cardiac output following cardiac surgery and as many as 90% of patients experience a decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and cardiac index (CI). Causes may vary from volume depletion to global myocardial dysfunction. Critical thinking skills, combined with diligent patient monitoring and a knowledge of cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology are required for prompt recognition and treatment of low cardiac output following cardiac surgery.