The impact of deep and moderate body temperatures on end-organ function during hypothermic circulatory arrest

Hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) at different temperatures is a protection technique for operations involving the aortic arch. In combination with selective cerebral perfusion, higher arrest temperatures for the remaining body may be permitted. However, the ischaemic/reperfusion injury (I/R) in various organ systems, other than the brain, related to the specific HCA temperature has so far not been evaluated.

Fourteen pigs were randomly assigned to 60 min of sole HCA at 20 or 30 °C temperature, weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and followed 4h after HCA. Besides complex haemodynamic monitoring, laser-Doppler spectrophotometry for measuring capillary blood flow, tissue oxygen saturation and post-capillary venous filling pressures of the bowel was installed. At the end of experiment, organs were perfusion fixated and harvested.

During the entire experiment, haemodynamics revealed no differences between the groups. CPB bypass times were 177 ± 12 min in the 20 °C and 158 ± 11 min in the 30 °C group, respectively (p = 0.02). During reperfusion, lactate levels were initially significantly higher in the 30 °C animals (p = 0.001) but subsequently declined. Microcirculatory blood flow and velocity in the bowel were significantly reduced during cooling and reperfusion (p < 0.05), but were independent of final HCA temperature. Histological evaluation revealed significantly more oedema formation in the bowel wall of the 30 °C animals (p = 0.05).

Higher levels of circulating lactate levels during reperfusion indicate less effective organ protection at 30 than at 20 °C after 60 min of HCA. This is further substantiated by histological evidence for a more pronounced oedema inflammatory response within the bowel wall.