Cross clamping the lower abdominal aorta during vascular surgery.

The effect of cross clamping the lower abdominal aorta on systemic blood pressure and right and left heart pressure was studied in 17 patients requiring surgical treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm or aortic occlusive disease, in neuroleptanaesthesia. After cross clamping the systemic systolic blood pressure rose 24 mmHg (p is less than 0.01) and the systemic diastolic blood pressure 8 mmHg (p is less than 0.01). There was no influence of cross clamping on the right (CVP) and and left (PCWP) heart filling pressure even in patients with preexistent readings beyond the normal range.