Prognostic implications of blood lactate concentrations after cardiac arrest: a retrospective study

Antonio Maria Dell'Anna1,2, Claudio Sandroni2, Irene Lamanna1

  • 1Department of Intensive Care, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik 808, 1070, Brussels, Belgium.

Annals of Intensive Care
|October 8, 2017
PubMed

Insights

High lactate levels after cardiac arrest predict poor neurological recovery. Factors like vasopressor use and kidney function influence these lactate levels, impacting patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Elevated blood lactate is linked to higher mortality following cardiac arrest (CA).
  • Understanding factors influencing lactate levels and their impact on neurological recovery is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify variables associated with high blood lactate concentrations post-CA.
  • To explore the relationship between blood lactate levels and neurological outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of adult patients resuscitated from CA and admitted to ICU.
  • Lactate concentrations measured at multiple time points (admission, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours).
  • Neurological outcome assessed at 3 months using Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) score.

Main Results:

  • 162 out of 236 patients (69%) experienced poor neurological outcomes.
  • Higher admission lactate and cSOFA scores were observed in patients with poor outcomes.
  • High admission lactate independently predicted poor neurological recovery (OR 1.18).

Conclusions:

  • Admission lactate concentration is an independent predictor of poor neurological recovery after CA.
  • Factors such as vasopressor use, high PaO2, prolonged resuscitation, and renal dysfunction predict high lactate levels.
Abstract