The relationship between organ perfusion pressure and multiple organ failure during mechanical left ventricular...

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between hemodynamics, especially the organ perfusion pressure (OPP = mean aortic pressure-mean right atrial pressure) and multiple organ failure (MOF) in cardiac patients receiving left ventricular mechanical assists (LVA). The subjects were 33 patients who had undergone left ventricular mechanical assists in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fukushima Medical College Hospital, from March 1985 through March 1990. OPP significantly correlated with the levels of GOT, total-bililubin (TB), BUN and serum-creatinin (s-Cr), oxygenation index (OI) and respiratory index (RI). The cardiac index and left and right ventricular stroke work indices, in comparison with OPP, did not significantly correlate with any of the above laboratory tests. These results indicate that OPP is a simple and reliable index to recognize, and also to prevent MOF during LVA. It was also found that OPP should be maintained at a level higher than 65mmHg to protect the liver, kidneys and lungs.