Markers of hemodynamic state and heart failure as predictors for outcome in cardiac surgery : with special reference to mixed venous oxygen saturation and natriuretic peptides

Abstract: Postoperative heart failure or low cardiac output syndrome is the major cause for morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery. Unfortunately commonly used methods to assess hemodynamic state and heart failure are not well documented with regard to outcome. The aim for this dissertation was to study the predictive values of postoperative Mixed Venous Oxygen saturation (SvO2) and preoperative NT-proBNP for outcomes related to postoperative heart failure.SvO2 was studied retrospectively in two cohorts of patients, one cohort operated with isolated Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis, (n=396) and one operated with isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), (n=2755). SvO2 measured early after surgery, on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), predicted postoperative morbidity and mortality. Our results suggest that, on admission to ICU SvO2 < 55 - 60% after AVR and SvO2 < 60% after CABG merits increased attention.Preoperative NT-proBNP was studied in a cohort of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing CABG with or without concomitant procedure. These patients (n=383) were included prospectively and evaluated with regard to mortality and severe circulatory failure postoperatively by an end-points committee blinded to NT-proBNP results. Preoperative NT-proBNP ≥ 1028 ng/L independently predicted increased risk for severe circulatory failure postoperatively in patients with ACS undergoing isolated CABG. Preoperative NT-proBNP provided additional prognostic information to EuroSCORE II in this cohort, particularly in patients at intermediate risk. Preoperative NT-proBNP appears to be markedly higher in patients having CABG with concomitant procedures than in patients undergoing isolated CABG. Further studies are warranted to identify preoperative NTproBNP risk thresholds for different heart conditions and surgery-specific cohorts.In conclusion this dissertation shows that:Postoperative SvO2 on admission to ICU is a prognostic marker for morbidity and mortality after AVR and CABG.Preoperative NT-proBNP ≥ 1028 ng/L independently predicts severe circulatory failure postoperatively in patients undergoing isolated CABG and provides additional prognostic information to EuroSCORE II.The high negative predictive value of the identified cutoff levels for preoperative NTproBNP and postoperative SvO2 could be useful for pre and postoperative decisionmaking.