The relationship of postoperative inotropic usage and preoperative NT-proBNP levels in open heart surgery

SUMMARYTHE RELATIONSHIP OF POSTOPERATIVE INOTROPIC USAGE ANDPREOPERATIVE NT-PROBNP LEVELS IN OPEN HEART SURGERYThe aim of this study is to evaluate the preoperative NT-proBNP levels on theuse of inotropic agents in the early postoperative period, in patients who hadondergone coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass.52 patients that had elective CABG between March 2004 and May 2005 weretaken ito study. Those who had renal failure, new onset myocardial infarction,combined valvular diseases, severe obstructive pulmonary disease in thepreoperative period were excluded from the study. Left Ventricul Ejection Fraction(LVEF) were evaluated echocardiographically in the preoperative period in allpatients. All of the patients NT-proBNP levels were calculated in Celal BayarUniversity faculty of medicine biochemistry laboratuary using Elecys proBNPsandwich immunassay method. NT-proBNP levels for this methos was under 220pmol/lt. The patients were grouped into two as the NT-proBNP levels under 220 andabove 220 pmol/lt. They were compared according to the use of inotropic agents andheart asisting methods. In patients where NT-proBNP levels were high, LVEF,cardiac output and cardiac index values were found lower (p<0.05). Longer time andhigher doses of inotropic agents were used in the group whose NT-proBNP levelswere high (p<0.05). No differences were observed concerning arterial pressure andcentral venous pressure (p<0.05).We concluded that measuring NT-proBNP levels preoperatively, gives opinionabout the need for inotropic agents treatment postoperatively.