Adrenal insufficiency in hemodynamically unstable neonates after open-heart surgery

To investigate if the low dose (1 µg) ACTH stimulation test appropriately assesses adrenal responsiveness in neonates undergoing open-heart surgery requiring cardio-pulmonary bypass.

In this retrospective study, adrenal axis response was assessed on the first post-operative day with the low-dose (1 µg) ACTH stimulation test. Age, gender, weight, RACHS category, inotrope score, and baseline and post-stimulation cortisol levels were collected. The association between basal serum cortisol levels and degree of response to the ACTH stimulation test was also investigated.

Tertiary care referral center.

Twenty-one neonates who underwent neonatal cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass and underwent an ACTH stimulation test. Interventions.  Hydrocortisone 50 mg/m(2) bolus in four divided doses daily.

Response to the low dose (1 µg) ACTH stimulation was assessed.

All neonates with hemodynamic instability in the immediate post-operative period had low basal serum cortisol levels. The basal mean serum cortisol level for the 21 patients who underwent the low dose ACTH stimulation test was 7.3 µg/dL (median 2.2, range 0.7-42). The mean serum cortisol level increased after the ACTH stimulation test in the 21 patients to 39.6 µg/dL (median 38, range 79-17). The mean inotrope score in the first 24 hours after surgery was 24 (median 17.5, range 7-76.5) and decreased to 17 (median 14, range 5-52.3) 24-48 hours after surgery. At 48 hours post-surgery the mean arterial pressure in the groups with a serum cortisol increase after ACTH stimulation (<30 µg/dL vs. >50 µg/dL) was significantly different (P value 0.026).

The low dose (1 µg) ACTH stimulation test is a valid test to assess adrenal responsiveness among neonates after open heart surgery requiring CPB. Traditionally used basal serum cortisol level cutoff of <20 µg/dL used to define relative adrenal insufficiency may not be applicable in neonates undergoing open heart surgery on CPB thus indicating the need for re-defining adrenal insufficiency in this patient population.