[Brain natriuretic peptide for postoperative monitoring of the fluid balance in a cardiac surgery patient].

Brain natriuretic peptide is a neurohormone used for estimation of left ventricular wall tension and volume overload. We describe the use of this parameter in a postoperative cardiac surgery patient for detection and monitoring of left ventricular failure in a postoperative intensive care unit at a tertiary care center. Left ventricular failure was detected by brain natriuretic peptide levels, while x-ray and values obtained by the pulmonary artery catheter were inconclusive.