Correlation between optic nerve sheath diameter and extracorporeal life support time.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Critical Care Medicine
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Assessing optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is crucial for monitoring intracranial pressure.
• Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) and aortic cross-clamp times are critical in pediatric cardiac surgery.
• Understanding the relationship between these surgical parameters and ONSD is important for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the correlation between extracorporeal life support (ECLS) and aortic cross-clamp times and optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in pediatric patients.
• To investigate ONSD changes following cardiac surgery requiring ECLS.
• To determine if ONSD variations occur in the absence of clinical signs of increased intracranial pressure.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 23 pediatric patients (0-15 years) undergoing cardiac surgery with ECLS was studied.
• Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurements were taken at baseline, 6, and 24 hours post-surgery.
• Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) and aortic cross-clamp times were extracted from operative reports.

Main Results:

• A positive correlation was found between ECLS duration and ONSD values (r=0.476, P<0.05).
• ONSD showed a median increase of 0.015 mm at 6 hours post-surgery (P=0.03), returning to baseline by 24 hours.
• No patients exhibited signs or symptoms of increased intracranial pressure.

Conclusions:

• ECLS duration is correlated with ONSD changes at 24 hours post-surgery in pediatric cardiac surgery patients.
• ONSD variations can occur even in the absence of increased intracranial pressure.
• Further research is needed to identify factors contributing to these ONSD variations.