If a post CABG patient's hemodynamic profile shows high cardiac output but low BP, what is the most likely cause?

In a post-CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting) patient who exhibits a high cardiac output alongside a low blood pressure, sepsis emerges as the most plausible explanation. Sepsis leads to a significant systemic inflammatory response that can cause vasodilation, increasing the capacity of the vascular system without necessarily providing enough volume to maintain blood pressure. Consequently, although cardiac output may remain high due to increased heart rate or fluid retention, the significant drop in vascular resistance leads to hypotension.

Furthermore, during sepsis, other compensatory mechanisms may be activated, pushing the cardiac output higher in an attempt to counteract the low blood pressure. These patients often require careful management to restore hemodynamic stability, which might involve fluid resuscitation and, in some cases, vasopressors to manage the hypotension effectively.

In contrast, perioperative myocardial infarction typically results in decreased cardiac output due to compromised heart function, and cardiac tamponade is more likely to cause decreased cardiac output along with elevated venous pressures rather than a high cardiac output situation. Excessive postoperative pain could contribute to tachycardia but would not typically cause a high cardiac output with hypotension. Therefore, sepsis is the most fitting cause for the described he