Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2026
Design of a Cyclic Pressure Bioreactor for the Ex Vivo Study of Aortic Heart Valves
Published on: August 23, 2011
Clinical variables and pro-inflammatory activation in paediatric heart surgery
E Jensen1, A Bengtsson, H Berggren
1Department of Paediatric Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Insights
Preoperative factors and surgical variables predict inflammatory responses in children undergoing complex congenital heart surgery. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels correlate with postoperative outcomes, including ventilation time.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Immunology
- Surgical Inflammation
Background:
- Congenital heart malformations require complex surgical interventions.
- Perioperative inflammation is a significant concern in pediatric cardiac surgery.
- Understanding inflammatory markers can optimize patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze preoperative and perioperative predictors of the inflammatory response in children undergoing surgery for congenital heart defects.
- To correlate complement (C3a, C5b-9) and cytokine (IL-6) activation with clinical variables and postoperative course.
Main Methods:
- Prospective descriptive study of 22 pediatric patients (1-28 months).
- Measurement of complement components C3a, C5b-9, and interleukin-6 (IL-6).
- Correlation analysis with preoperative characteristics and perioperative variables.
Main Results:
- Significant increases in C3a, C5b-9, and IL-6 were observed during the study period.
- C3a correlated with preoperative hemoglobin and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time.
- IL-6 levels were associated with Down's syndrome, preoperative hemoglobin, weight deviation, and ventilator time.
Conclusions:
- Preoperative and perioperative factors effectively predict inflammatory responses in infants and children undergoing open-heart surgery.
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) activation is linked to the patient's postoperative clinical course.
Objectives:
The first aim was to analyse the role of preoperative characteristics and perioperative variables in predicting the inflammatory response during and early after operations for congenital heart malformations of moderate to severe complexity. The second aim was to correlate complement and cytokine activation during the same period with clinical variables reflecting the postoperative course.
Methods:
Prospective descriptive clinical study that involved 22 consecutive children (1-28 months). Five children had Down's syndrome. Concentrations of C3a, C5b-9 and IL-6 were measured.
Results:
C3a, C5b-9 and IL-6 increased significantly during the study period (ANOVA: C3a, p = 0.001; C5b-9, p = 0; IL-6, p = 0). C3a correlated with preoperative haemoglobin (r = 0.71, p = 0.0002) and CPB time (r = 0.72, p=0.0005). C5b-9 correlated with CPB time (r= 0.58, p=0.004). IL-6 related to presence of Down's syndrome (p=0.0001) and correlated with preoperative haemoglobin (r=0.55, p=0.02), preoperative weight deviation (r = -0.52, p = 0.03) and time in the ventilator (r = 0.68, p = 0.002).
Conclusions:
Preoperative and perioperative characteristics predict the inflammatory response during open heart surgery in infants and small children. IL-6 response is related to the postoperative course.
