Correlation Between Perioperative Autonomic Function and Post-induction Hypotension in Elderly Patients

Correlation Between Perioperative Autonomic Function and Adverse Events Such as Post-induction Hypotension in Elderly Patients

Elderly patients have a higher risk of post-induction hypotension (PIH). The decreased cardiovascular autonomic function at baseline in elderly patients may contribute to the development of PIH. The objective of our study is to effect of preoperative cardiovascular autonomic modulation in PIH, we will recruit elderly patients who are going to have general anesthesia surgery and measure preoperative baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and heart rate variability (HRV). The primary outcome will be PIH. Secondary outcomes included: early intraoperative hypotension, postoperative complications, and 30-day postoperative mortality.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Intraoperative Hypotension
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Perioperative autonomic function assessment

Detailed Description

With the deepening of the aging population, the number of elderly patients undergoing surgery is also increasing. These elderly patients have a declining physiological reserve and face challenges in anesthesia management: studies have shown that elderly patients are at high risk of intraoperative adverse events and postoperative complications. Post-induction hypotension (PIH) refers to the hypotension that occurs between anesthesia induction and skin incision. The current diagnostic criteria have not been fully unified. Patients with intraoperative PIH have a higher risk of postoperative death and damage to vital organs such as the heart and kidneys, and have a poor prognosis. Elderly patients are a high-risk group for PIH. Therefore, it is of great meaning to quantify the risk factors of PIH in elderly patients.

Cardiovascular autonomic function may play an essential role in intraoperative blood pressure regulation. The pressure sensor of the cardiovascular system sends the blood pressure signal to the central nervous system, and regulates the blood pressure to an appropriate level through a compensatory reflex (i.e., baroreflex). Baroreflex function can be quantified by observing the R-R interval response to an arterial blood pressure change and the results are expressed as baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). In addition to BRS, heart rate variability (HRV) can also be used to assess cardiovascular autonomic function. HRV is a promising quantitative marker of autonomic activity, which includes the time domain and frequency domain analysis of R-R interval rhythm.

Some studies have explored the relationship between preoperative cardiovascular autonomic function and PIH. However, these studies did not assess preoperative volume status, and they did not measure BRS, which is probably more connected with baroreflex.

We hypothesized that the decreased baroreflex sensitivity at baseline in elderly patients may contribute to the development of PIH. To explore the effect of preoperative cardiovascular autonomic modulation in PIH in elderly patients, we are going to measure preoperative BRS and HRV in those who were about to undergo general anesthesia surgery.

We are conducting a single-center, prospective cohort study. Elderly patients (over 65 years of age) who are going to have elective surgery under general anesthesia will be recruited and will have BRS and HRV measurements taken for approximately 20 minutes, one day before surgery and on the day of surgery. We use LiDCO rapid to conduct non-invasive pulse and beat-to-beat blood pressure monitoring. In addition to spontaneous BRS and HRV assessment, the patients will be instructed to perform round-lip breathing at 0.1 Hz for 1 minute to gain more information about BRS and HRV through respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA).

The primary outcome will be PIH. Secondary outcomes included: early intraoperative hypotension, postoperative complications, and 30-day postoperative mortality. Anesthesia induction medications and intraoperative monitoring data will be recorded. The intraoperative monitoring meets the standards of basic physiologic monitors recommended by American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). We will use Clavien-Dindo classification to describe postoperative complications. Patients will be followed up during hospitalization and 30 days after the surgery by telephone.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 180

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Beijing, China, 100730
    • Recruiting
    • Peking Union Medical College Hospital
    • Contact: Quexuan Cui, M.D.; Phone Number: 8610-69156114; Email: cuiquexuan@pumch.cn

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 65 years to 100 years (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Elderly patients who will undergo general anesthesia surgery in Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 65 years old;
• Elective non-cardiac surgery;
• ASA Class I-III;
• General anesthesia;
• Use a tracheal tube as an airway management tool;
• Patients and their families can understand the research protocol and are willing to participate in this research

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe vascular disease;
• Secondary hypertension;
• Parkinson's disease;
• Cannot measure upper extremity blood pressure for various reasons;
• Arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation cannot perform HRV measurement;
• Mentally abnormal and unable to cooperate

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Post-induction hypotension group; Post-induction hypotension is defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) <90 mmHg, mean arterial pressure (MAP) <65 mmHg, or a decrease of more than 30% of baseline within 20 minutes after induction or before incision.	Other: Perioperative autonomic function assessment; Patients will have BRS and HRV measurements taken for approximately 20 minutes, one day before surgery and on the day of surgery. We use LiDCO rapid to conduct non-invasive pulse and beat-to-beat blood pressure monitoring.
Stable blood pressure group; All enrolled elderly patients will undergo surgery under general anesthesia after preoperative monitoring. Those patients whose blood pressure is relatively stable after induction and does not meet the PIH criteria is classified as the stable blood pressure group.	Other: Perioperative autonomic function assessment; Patients will have BRS and HRV measurements taken for approximately 20 minutes, one day before surgery and on the day of surgery. We use LiDCO rapid to conduct non-invasive pulse and beat-to-beat blood pressure monitoring.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Post-induction hypotension	Systolic blood pressure (SBP) <90 mmHg, mean arterial pressure (MAP) <65 mmHg, or a decrease of more than 30% of baseline	within 20 minutes after induction or before incision

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Early intraoperative hypotension	Systolic blood pressure (SBP) <90 mmHg, mean arterial pressure (MAP) <65 mmHg, or a decrease of more than 30% of baseline	within 30 minutes after incision
postoperative complications	postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification)	30 days after the surgery
mortality	death	30 days after the surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Heart rate variability. Standards of measurement, physiological interpretation, and clinical use. Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. Eur Heart J. 1996 Mar;17(3):354-81. No abstract available.
• Ziemssen T, Siepmann T. The Investigation of the Cardiovascular and Sudomotor Autonomic Nervous System-A Review. Front Neurol. 2019 Feb 12;10:53. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00053. eCollection 2019.
• Padley JR, Ben-Menachem E. Low pre-operative heart rate variability and complexity are associated with hypotension after anesthesia induction in major abdominal surgery. J Clin Monit Comput. 2018 Apr;32(2):245-252. doi: 10.1007/s10877-017-0012-4. Epub 2017 Mar 14.
• La Rovere MT, Pinna GD, Raczak G. Baroreflex sensitivity: measurement and clinical implications. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol. 2008 Apr;13(2):191-207. doi: 10.1111/j.1542-474X.2008.00219.x.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 25, 2022
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 11, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 15, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 15, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): June 21, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 19, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 18, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: post-induction hypotension, autonomic function, elderly patients
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Hypotension
• Other Study ID Numbers: PUMCHanesthesia-elderly

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No