Related Experiment Videos

Frequency, risk factors, and outcome of hyperlactatemia after cardiac surgery

Jean-Michel Maillet1, Paul Le Besnerais, Manuel Cantoni

  • 1Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Intensive Care Unit, Centre Cardiologique du Nord, Saint-Denis, France.

Chest
|May 13, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Hyperlactatemia after cardiac surgery is common, with immediate hyperlactatemia (IHL) significantly increasing ICU mortality risk. Early lactate measurement can identify high-risk patients for better outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Intensive Care Medicine
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Hyperlactatemia is a known complication following cardiac surgery.
  • Understanding the different patterns and predictors of hyperlactatemia is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequencies, risk factors, and outcomes of no hyperlactatemia (NHL), immediate hyperlactatemia (IHL), and late hyperlactatemia (LHL) after cardiac surgery.
  • To assess the predictive value of different hyperlactatemia patterns for ICU mortality.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, observational study of 325 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for cardiac surgery.
  • Lactate concentrations measured at ICU admission, 4 hours, 6-16 hours, and day 1 post-surgery.
  • Comparison of mortality rates and risk factors across NHL, IHL, and LHL groups.

Main Results:

  • Immediate hyperlactatemia (IHL) occurred in 20.6% and late hyperlactatemia (LHL) in 17.2% of patients.
  • ICU mortality was significantly higher in the IHL group (14.9%) compared to LHL (3.6%) and NHL (1.5%).
  • Independent risk factors for IHL included nonelective surgery and longer CPB duration; hyperglycemia and epinephrine therapy were risk factors for LHL.

Conclusions:

  • Hyperlactatemia is a frequent occurrence post-cardiac surgery.
  • A lactate threshold of 3 mmol/L at ICU admission effectively identifies patients at increased risk of morbidity and mortality.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos