Les facteurs de risque associés à la dépendance prolongée aux vasopresseurs en postopératoire de chirurgie cardiaque sous circulation extracorporelle

Background: Vasopressor dependency is a common complication of cardiac surgery. The vasoplegic syndrome is a severe form of vasopressor dependency, due either to a diffuse systemic inflammatory reaction or to cardiac dysfunction after separation from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Although several risk factors have been described, no intervention has been demonstrated to be effective to prevent this complication. The objective of this study is to identify modifiable pre and peri operative risk factors of prolonged vasopressor dependency after separation from CPB in cardiac surgery. Design: This is a retrospective observational study in a single specialized cardiac surgery center. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 263 patients undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) enrolled in two separate prospective studies was performed. Prolonged vasopressor use was defined as the persistence of at least one vasopressor for more than 24 hours after separation from CPB. Data collection included pre-operative risk factors, intraoperative treatment, hemodynamic and echocardiographic variables within the first 24 hours of intensive care unit (ICU) stay after surgery. Results: A total of 247 patients were included and 98 (39.7%) developed prolonged vasopressor dependence. Older age (67 ± 12 vs. 64 ± 12 years; p = 0.01) and higher EuroSCORE II (3.1% (IQR 1.7-6.1) vs. 1.7% (IQR 1.03-3.1); p < 0.0001) was associated with prolonged vasopressor dependence. Furthermore, those patients had worst outcomes including a longer duration of mechanical ventilation (5 hours (IQR 4-9) vs. 4 hours (IQR 3-5); p < 0.001) and a longer ICU stay (3 days (IQR 1-2) vs. 1 day (IQR 1-2); p < 0.001) and hospital stay (7 days (IQR 6-10) vs. 5 days (IQR 4-7)). Patients with prolonged vasopressor dependency had a longer CPB time (100 mins (IQR 75-129) vs. 83 mins (IQR 65-108); p = 0.009), greater intraoperative norepinephrine dose (0.07 ± 0.05 μg.kg-1.min-1 vs. 0.04 ± 0.04 μg.kg-1.min-1, p < 0.001) and larger fluid intake at the end of surgery (2747 ± 1241 vs. 2284 ± 879 ml; p = 0.001). In multivariable analysis, pre-existing reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF £ 30%) (OR: 9,52, 95 % CI : 1.14-79.24; p = 0.03), preoperative pulmonary hypertension (PH) (sPAP > 30 and £ 55 mmHg: OR: 2.5, 95 % CI : 1.14- 5.52; sPAP > 55 mmHg: OR: 8,12, 95 % CI: 2.53-26.02; p = 0.001) and first 24 hours cumulative fluid balance (OR: 1.78, 95 % CI: 1.41-2.24; p < 0.0001) were independently associated with the development of prolonged vasopressors dependence. This model had a good ability to predict prolonged vasopressor dependence after cardiac surgery (AUC = 0.80, 95 % CI: 0.73-0.86; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Vasopressor dependency remains a frequent complication after CPB surgery. Its association with PH and positive fluid balance is unreported and potentially reversible. Prospective studies and clinical trials should explore the role and potential modulation of these two factors in order to prevent postoperative vasopressor dependency.

Keyphrases: Cardiopulmonary bypass, Cardiac surgery, Vasopressor dependence, Pulmonary hypertension, Fluid balance, Left ventricular ejection fraction