Abstract
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a feared consequence of open heart surgery in children. Increased gastric acid secretion is a known key factor in the pathogenesis of gastritis and upper intestinal ulcerations. The aim of this study is to evaluate the serum kinetics of acid-stimulating factors and associated perioperative parameters after heart surgery in children. Fifteen pediatric patients after open heart surgery and 15 children with cardiac catheterization were included in this study. Serum levels of gastrin, histidine, alanine, and tryptophan were analyzed before and up to 26 h after surgery. In the postoperative period there was a significant elevation of gastrin with a peak at 4 h after surgery. Serum histidine was increased significantly immediately after surgery only in patients undergoing heart surgery with cardioplegia. No association of gastrin and histidine elevation with ischemia, perfusion time or lactate was observed. Factors that are responsible for postoperative gastrin elevation still have to be determined. Circumstances of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) in low-risk patients most likely do not lead to relevant elevation of amino acids with acid-stimulatory effect in our study population.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
