ABSTRACT

Background: By lowering the oxygen fraction of the reperfusate, the reactive oxygen-derived free radicals can be reduced thus facilitating myocardial recovery during weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass and after surgery. Materials & Methods: Thirty patients undergoing mitral valve replacement were randomly exposed to an oxygen fraction of 0.7 (hyperoxic, n = 15) or 0.5 (normoxic, n = 15) during reperfusion. Hemodynamic variables, number of patients requiring additional inotropes and who developed new arrhythmia, duration of ventilation and intensive care unit stay, arterial blood gas and renal function were measured. Results: The demographic data, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross clamp time, duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit stay, additional inotropes, arrhythmia after reperfusion and renal function were similar in both groups. Arterial blood gas analysis was not significantly different, except for the low oxygen partial pressure in the normoxic group during reperfusion. With regard to hemodynamic variables, mean arterial pressure of the hyperoxic group was higher one hour after the cross clamp release. Hemodynamic variables were comparable in all other time periods. Conclusion: By reducing the oxygen concentration during reperfusion, the clinical outcomes in terms of inotropes usage, new arrhythmia after reperfusion, renal function, duration of ventilation and intensive care unit stay were not significantly altered.

1. Background

Oxygen tension during reperfusion in cardiopulmonary bypass plays a major role in ischemic-reperfusion injury. Cardiopulmonary bypass is commonly instituted in a hyperoxic fashion where the arterial oxygen tension is 300 to 400 mm of Hg. The overproduction of oxygenderived free radicals and cytosolic calcium are the major causes for ischemic-reperfusion myocardial injury. Consequences of reperfusion injury include ventricular fibrillation, myocardial stunning and loss of intracellular proteins. Thus, reducing reperfusion injury is very important in improving prognosis [1]. By lowering the oxygen fraction of the reperfusate, the reactive oxygen-derived free radicals which are the main causes of reperfusion myocardial injury can be reduced thus facilitating myocardial recovery during weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass and after surgery.

2. Introduction

During cardiopulmonary bypass, the myocardium is damaged not only by ischemic injury but also by reperfusion injury. Administering oxygen during reperfusion may be a “double-edged sword” [2]. In theory, increased availability of oxygen might increase reactive oxygen species production and thus aggravate the reperfusion injury. Further, it has been shown that hyperoxia induces coronary vasoconstriction and decreases coronary flow in both healthy volunteers and patients with coronary artery disease [3]. On the other hand, studies in different models have suggested that normoxia during reoxygenation of the hypoxic or cardioplegic heart reduces reperfusion injury [4-6]. Hypoxic or controlled reperfusion alleviates post-ischemic injury in skeletal muscle [7] and stomach [8]. A recent editorial in the British Medical Journal stated that “the potential dangers of hyperoxia need to be recognized,” and that “oxygen therapy remains a cornerstone of modern medical practice. To further quantify the risks associated with hyperoxia, more trials are needed” [9]. In cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia, there is a postcardioplegic reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium. We hypothesized that hyperoxia at the time of reperfusion might increase ischemia/ reperfusion injury. So we reduced the oxygen concentration to normoxia during reperfusion.

3. Aim

To evaluate the effect of arterial oxygen tension during reperfusion on perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing mitral valvular replacement by an analysis of hemodynamic variables, inotropes usage, renal function, duration of ventilation and intensive care unit stay.

4. Materials and Methods

This is a prospective randomized study of 30 consecutive patients undergoing mitral valve replacement. The patients were divided into 2 groups comprising of 15 patients in each group. The age range was from 18 - 50 years. The study was approved by the institutional review board and informed consent was obtained from all patients. Patients with severe mitral stenosis (valve area less than 1 cm²) and moderate to severe pulmonary artery hypertension were included in the study.

The exclusion criteria included a left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40%, right ventricular dysfunction, rhythm other sinus, evidence of a coagulopathy, chronic lung disease, liver and kidney disease, previous heart surgery, mechanical support during weaning of cardiopulmonary bypass and oxygen partial pressure of less than 75 mm of Hg with an inspired oxygen fraction of 0.4 after induction.

Patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups based on the inspired oxygen concentration at the time of last reperfusion after the release of aortic cross clamp. Hyperoxic group received an inspired oxygen concentration of 0.7. Normoxic group received an inspired oxygen concentration of 0.5. Only the perfusionist was aware of the patient group. Anesthesia was induced with midazolam 0.05 mg/kg, fentanyl 2 μg/kg, etomidate 0.2 mg/kg and vecuronium bromide 0.3 mg/kg. After tracheal intubation, the lungs were ventilated with a tidal volume of 5 - 8 ml/kg at a rate of 12 - 14 breaths/min, a FiO2 of 0.5 and maintained with sevoflurane 1% - 2%. Monitors included electrocardiogram, pulse oximetry, invasive arterial pressure, central venous pressure, temperature, bispectral index, urine output and tranesophageal echocardiogram. Arterial blood gas was done as an when required.

The bypass circuit was primed with ringer lactate to make a priming volume 1200 ml. Standard bypass technique with systemic hypothermia of 28 - 32 degrees celsius was followed. There was a membrane oxygenator in the circuit and the blood flow rate was 2.2 - 2.4 L/min/m². Mean arterial pressure was maintained between 40 - 60 mm of Hg. Hemoglobin was maintained between 6 - 8 gm/dl. All patients received an inspired oxygen concentration of 0.7 during cardiopulmonary bypass. In the normoxic group, the inspired oxygen concentration was lowered to 0.5 from the last warm cardioplegia administration till aortic cross clamp release. The inspired oxygen concentration was again increased to 0.7. In both the hyperoxic and normoxic groups, arterial blood gas analysis was done after the last warm cardioplegia administration. All patients received nitroglycerine and dobutamine infusion while weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. All surgeries were done by a single surgeon.

All patients were transferred to the intensive care unit after surgery. Packed red blood cells were transfused when the hematocrit was less than 25%. Hemodynamic variables, including heart rate, mean arterial pressure and central venous pressure were recorded during induction of anesthesia, weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, sternum closure, 6 hours and 24 hours after surgery. The number of patients requiring inotropes in addition to dobutamine infusion and who developed arrhythmia after reperfusion were noted. Duration of intensive care unit stay and duration of ventilation were recorded. Arterial blood gas was done before going on cardiopulmonary bypass and after reperfusion and release of cross clamp. Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were measured preoperatively, day 1 & 2 after surgery.

5. Statistics

Power calculation suggested that a minimum of 13 patients per group would detect a 15% differences in outcome variables between groups after intervention (α = 0.05, β = 0.2). To take care of any dropouts, we enrolled 15 patients in each group. All data were analyzed by student’s t test (independent samples t test), Chi-square test, Mann–Whitney U-test, and Fisher’s exact test wherever applicable. The package SPSS 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for statistical analysis. p value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. All data are expressed as number of patients or mean +/− standard deviation.

6. Results

There were no significant differences in the demographic data between the two groups (Table 1). The duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross clamp were higher in normoxic group although it was not significant. There is no significant difference in the duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit stay. Additional inotropic requirement and new arrhythmia ater reperfusion was similar in both groups (Table 2). The arterial blood gas analysis after the last warm cardioplegia administration was not significantly different, except for the low oxygen partial pressure in the normoxic group (Table 3). Hydrogen ion concentration, partial

pressure of oxygen and lactate levels on postoperative day 1 and 2 were similar (Table 4). Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were similar in both groups (Table 5). With regard to hemodynamic variables mean arterial pressure of the hyperoxic group was higher one hour after the cross clamp release. In all other time periods of measurement the hemodynamic variables were comparable (Table 6).

7. Discussion

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of arterial oxygen tension during reperfusion on hemodynamics, inotropes in addition to dobutamine, renal function, duration of ventilation, and intensive care unit stay in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. Valvular heart surgery has the possibility of reducing myocardial function by increasing afterload post-operatively, unlike the coronary artery bypass grafting surgery that improve myocardial function by increased coronary flow. Cardiopulmonary bypass is not only associated with myocardial ischemic injury during aortic cross clamping, but also reperfusion injury after discontinuation of cross clamp [10]. It is clinically important to find a method that reduces myocardial injury from ischemic-reperfusion for patients undergoing valvular heart surgery. Reduced oxygen tension during reperfusion after aortic unclamping on cardiopulmonary bypass is more effective against myocardial injury than a calcium antagonist in the short term [1]. It is a convenient and safe management technique that can reduce morbidity and mortality, especially in the severely compromised heart.

There is major increase in oxygen free radicals due to reperfusion with oxygenated blood. Free radicals such as superoxide (O₂), hydroxyl (OH⁻) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) are extremely reactive and indistinctly damage all cell components, increasing ischemia-induced cell injuries [11]. The production of these free radicals is proportionate to oxygen tension (PO₂) during reperfusion [12]. Clinical consequences may go from reversible myocardial dysfunction persisting after reperfusion and known as myocardial stunning, to myocardial infarction. So in our study instead of looking at biomarkers of myocardial injury we looked at clinical outcomes like increased inotropes requirement and duration of ventilation.

During adult cardiac surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass is commonly hyperoxic and can itself also lead to the production of oxygen-derived free radicals [13]. Studies have free radical scavengers improves the recovery of cardiac function following preservation and reperfusion [14]. The present study showed that lowering the oxygen concentration during reperfusion after aortic unclamping did not affect the outcomes in terms of additional inotrope requirement, duration of mechanical ventilation or intensive care unit stay. The concept of reperfusion injury remains controversial with several proposed mechanisms, but it is mainly oxygen-derived free radicals and

calcium overload that play an important role in the development of left ventricular dysfunction, stunning, reperfusion arrhythmias, vascular damage, and endothelial dysfunction [15].

Various strategy used to reduce ischemic-reperfusion injury include lowering blood pressure during reperfusion, reducing blood flow during reperfusion, but one of the most vigorously researched methods is controlling arterial oxygen tension in order to reduce reperfusion injury [16-18]. Maintaining normoxic cardiopulmonary bypass in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease resulted in dramatically reduced levels of conjugated diens, which represents the lipid peroxidation levels of the heart, compared with patients that maintained on hyperoxic cardiopulmonary bypass [19]. Also there is a reduced levels of creatinine kinase-myocardial bound, a biomarker indicating the extent of myocardial damage, in adult patients in which arterial oxygen tension was maintained in the normal range tension during cardiopulmon-

ary bypass and reperfusion [1]. Not only biomarkers there is also better recovery of cardiac function and effective improvement of aortic and coronary blood flow when arterial oxygen tension is maintained between 200 and 250 mmHg when compared with arterial oxygen tension of 400 and 450 mmHg [18]. We reduced the inspired oxygen concentration of reperfusate to 0.5 for a brief period however none of the clinical outcome parameters were altered.

In this study patient characteristics were comparable. There is no significant difference in cardiopulmonary bypass duration and aortic occlusion time between the two groups. Partial pressure of oxygen in normoxic group was low after reperfusion with subsequent values similar to those of hyperoxic group and not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in hemodynamic variables between the two groups except that normoxic group had low blood pressure one hour after aortic cross clamp removal, which was statistically significant. The study done by Jeong-Soo Lee [20] had similar findings but he included all valvular heart disease. In our study we included only severe mitral stenosis with valve area less than 1 cm², with moderate to several pulmonary hypertension and good biventricular function. This eliminated the bias having different subgroup of patients.

It is possible to include other markers of ischemia/ reperfusion injury, such as apoptosis, autophagy, and release of biochemical markers. However, necrosis is the “hardest” end point and the other markers are usually in parallel with necrosis. Thus, hyperoxygenation during very early reperfusion might be damaging. This study however showed that oxygen at the time of reperfusion is not detrimental. If any effect was found, it was that hyperoxia was preventive against lethal ventricular fibrillation. The border zone or the area at risk is critical for generation of reperfusion arrhythmias, and improved oxygenation of this area might be preventive toward lethal arrhythmias. Pre-treatment with hyperoxic gas has a precondition-like, cardioprotective effect, possibly by a nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB)-dependent mechanism [21]. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure and central venous pressure were not altered by reducing the oxygenation during reperfusion. Also the onset of new arrhythmia during reperfusion was not different between the two groups.

At present we should strive to ensure that oxygen is prescribed, administered, and monitored with care. This will enable us to achieve optimal tissue oxygenation for more of our patients. The important message from our study is that hyperoxia during reperfusion is not detrimental. This is in contrast with studies which have been conducted in animal models on cardiopulmonary bypass [22]. Consequently, increased availability of oxygen during early reperfusion is not harmful.

8. Conclusion

Inotropes usage, new arrhythmia after reperfusion, renal function, duration of ventilation and intensive care unit stay were not significantly altered by reducing the oxygen concentration during reperfusion. In the hyperoxic group, the partial pressure of oxygen after reperfusion and blood pressure for 1 hour after aortic cross clamp removal were significantly altered with no clinical avail. By reducing the oxygen concentration during reperfusion, the biomarkers of reperfusion may be reduced; however, the clinical outcomes in terms of inotropes usage, new arrhythmia after reperfusion, renal function, duration of ventilation and intensive care unit stay were not significantly altered.

REFERENCES