The usefulness of perioperative lactate blood levels in patients undergoing heart valve surgery.

Abstract

AimThe aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of lactate blood levels in the perioperative period in patients undergoing heart valve surgery.Material and methodsA prospective study was conducted on a group of consecutive patients with significant valvular heart disease who underwent elective valve surgery. The primary endpoint was total mortality in a 30-day follow-up. Univariate analysis, followed by multivariate regression analysis, was performed.ResultsThe study included 801 patients. The primary end point occurred in 36 patients. At multivariate analysis lactate blood level measured one day after surgery and pH measured one day after surgery remained independent predictors of the primary end-point.ConclusionsElevated postoperative lactate blood level was associated with a higher risk of postoperative death.