Blood Lactate Level as Predictor of Early Outcome after Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background: Identification of predictors of morbidity and mortality is an important issue for the
management of cardiac surgical patients. Elevated lactate concentrations in the immediate
postoperative period reflect unmet metabolic demand and may be associated with outcome.
Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out in the department of cardiac surgery, at
National Heart Foundation Hospital& Research Institute(NHFH&RI), Dhaka. commencing from
July 2016 to March 2018. In all Adult patients irrespective of sex undergoing elective off-pump
coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). Purposive sampling was applied with patient with
blood lactate level < 3 mmol/L 6hours after shifting from OT to ICU in Group-A and blood lactate
level ≥3mmol/l, 6hours after shifting to the ICU in Group-B.Postoperative early adverse outcomes
were analyzed in both the patient groups.
Results: Blood lactate level 6 hours after ICU transfer is an independent predictor for prolonged
mechanical ventilation time, (OR 2.540, 95% CI 1.781-3.621, p= <0.001).prolonged ICU stay, .(OR
1.767, 95% CI 1.348-2.315, p=< 0.001) pulmonary complication (OR 1.503, 95% CI 1.104-2.046, p=
0.010).and renal dysfunction(OR 1.460, 95% CI 1.156-1.843, p= 0.001). following off-pump coronary
artery bypass grafting. Other risk factors for adverse outcome including, low LVEF, diabetes mellitus,
blood transfusion and inotropic support were also found to be predictors of major complications in
our study.
Conclusion: The findings of this study permits to conclude that blood lactate level 6hours after ICU
transfer is associated with an increased risk of postoperative early adverse outcome after off-pump
coronary artery bypass grafting. It is found that lactate is an independent predictor of major
postoperative complications. So, achieving normal blood lactate level following OPCABG is essential
for minimizing postoperative adverse outcome