Factors affecting on serum lactate after cardiac surgery

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Transfusion Medicine
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Elevated blood lactate levels correlate with increased mortality and morbidity post-coronary bypass surgery.
• Packed red blood cell storage duration is a potential factor influencing blood lactate levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of transfused blood storage duration on serum lactate levels during and after cardiac surgery.
• To assess serum lactate levels up to 24 hours post-surgery in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 228 patients undergoing open cardiac surgery.
• Systematic random sampling was used for patient enrollment.
• Arterial blood gas samples were collected pre-operatively, at the end of surgery, and 24 hours post-surgery in the ICU.

Main Results:

• Diabetes and higher ejection fraction (EF) were associated with reduced lactate level changes during surgery.
• Increased infused blood units, longer on-pump time, and longer blood unit storage duration correlated with elevated intraoperative serum lactate.
• A significant association was observed between blood storage duration and serum lactate levels 24 hours post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• The number of blood units transfused significantly affects postoperative serum lactate levels.
• Blood storage duration did not demonstrate a significant impact on serum lactate levels.
• The quantity of transfused blood units emerged as a more significant factor influencing serum lactate compared to storage duration.