How Much Cardiac Output is Enough?

Prospective, Observational Study in Cardiac Surgery: How Much Cardiac Output is Enough?

Low output syndrome is a common complication in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Its incidence was reported to be 2 to 6% [1]. Morbidity and mortality of low output syndrome is high and the costs for treating the disease are immense.

The primary objective of this prospective observational study is to define a threshold for a critically reduced cardiac output requiring immediate therapy.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Low Cardiac Output Syndrome

Detailed Description

Low output syndrome is a common complication in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Its incidence was reported to be 2 to 6% [1]. In patients suffering from low output syndrome cardiac output is severely reduced due to myocardial failure. Among other reasons for myocardial failure, ischemia, insufficient myocardial protection during aortic cross-clamping, and severely reduced ventricular function prior surgery are the most common risk factors for low output syndrome. Low output syndrome is treated with positive inotropic drugs and mechanical assist devices [2]. Morbidity and mortality of low output syndrome is high and the costs for treating the disease are immense.

If cardiac output cannot be increased cardiac failure persist and vital organs are hypoperfused. Critical and prolonged hypoperfusion results in single and multi organ failure. Until today a definite threshold for a critically reduced cardiac output or cardiac index requiring immediate therapy is not completely known. Cardiogenic shock is diagnosed by clinical signs and it is not diagnosed by cardiac output or cardiac index. The critical value for a severely reduces cardiac index was reported to be in a range of 1.75 to 2.5L/min/m² [3-5].

The primary objective of this prospective observational study in 600 patients undergoing cardiac surgery is to try to define a threshold for a critically reduced cardiac output or cardiac index requiring immediate therapy.

If cardiac output and cardiac index are not reduced below a critical threshold, morbidity, mortality, and length of stay in the intensive care unit and in the hospital are reduced [6].

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 600

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Ludwigshafen, Germany, 67063
    • Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

600 patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients undergoing cardiac surgery,
• Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Missing consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Control
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Oberservation; 600 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
The primary objective is to try to define a threshold value for a critically reduced cardiac output or cardiac index requiring immediate therapy to reduce mortality and morbidity.	90 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Klinikum Ludwigshafen
• Collaborators: Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine; Klinikum der Stadt Ludwigshafen, Department of Cardiac Surgery
• Investigators: Study Director: Joachim Boldt, MD, Klinikum Ludwigshafen, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care medicine

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Hausmann H, Potapov EV, Koster A, Krabatsch T, Stein J, Yeter R, Kukucka M, Sodian R, Kuppe H, Hetzer R. Prognosis after the implantation of an intra-aortic balloon pump in cardiac surgery calculated with a new score. Circulation. 2002 Sep 24;106(12 Suppl 1):I203-6.
• Lehmann A, Boldt J. New pharmacologic approaches for the perioperative treatment of ischemic cardiogenic shock. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2005 Feb;19(1):97-108. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2004.11.020. No abstract available.
• Bohrer H, Schmidt H, Motsch J, Gust R, Bach A, Martin E. Gastric intramucosal pH: a predictor of survival in cardiac surgery patients with low cardiac output? J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 1997 Apr;11(2):184-6. doi: 10.1016/s1053-0770(97)90211-1.
• Hochman JS, Sleeper LA, Webb JG, Sanborn TA, White HD, Talley JD, Buller CE, Jacobs AK, Slater JN, Col J, McKinlay SM, LeJemtel TH. Early revascularization in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock. SHOCK Investigators. Should We Emergently Revascularize Occluded Coronaries for Cardiogenic Shock. N Engl J Med. 1999 Aug 26;341(9):625-34. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199908263410901.
• Adams HA, Baumann G, Gansslen A, Janssens U, Knoefel W, Koch T, Marx G, Muller-Werdan U, Pape HC, Prange W, Roesner D, Standl T, Teske W, Werner G, Zander R; I.A.G.-Schock. [Definition of shock types]. Anasthesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther. 2001 Nov;36 Suppl 2:S140-3. doi: 10.1055/s-2001-18174. German.
• Polonen P, Ruokonen E, Hippelainen M, Poyhonen M, Takala J. A prospective, randomized study of goal-oriented hemodynamic therapy in cardiac surgical patients. Anesth Analg. 2000 May;90(5):1052-9. doi: 10.1097/00000539-200005000-00010.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2007
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 1, 2008
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 28, 2007
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 8, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): February 20, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): November 25, 2009
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 23, 2009
• Last Verified: November 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Morbidity; Mortality; Cardiac surgery; Low cardiac output syndrome
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cardiac Output, Low
• Other Study ID Numbers: CI-11-2007; klilu-11-2007-alehmann