Volume 133, Issue 3 , Pages 648-655, March 2007
Cerebral perfusion and oxygenation after the Norwood procedure: Comparison of right ventricle–pulmonary artery conduit with modified Blalock–Taussig shunt
Article Outline
Objective
The proposed physiologic advantage of the modified Norwood procedure using a right ventricle–pulmonary artery conduit to supply pulmonary blood flow, compared with a modified Blalock–Taussig shunt, is reduced runoff from the systemic-to-pulmonary circulation during diastole, resulting in a higher diastolic blood pressure and improved systemic perfusion. We hypothesized that the modified Norwood procedure is associated with improved cerebral perfusion and oxygenation.
Methods
Transcranial Doppler sonography and near-infrared spectroscopy were performed in neonates undergoing the Norwood procedure with either a modified Blalock–Taussig shunt (n = 14) or right ventricle–pulmonary artery conduit (n = 13).
Results
Diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the right ventricle–pulmonary artery group at 6 hours after bypass (46 ± 7 vs 40 ± 4 mm Hg; P = .03), on postoperative day 1 (45 ± 6 vs 37 ± 5 mm Hg; P = .002), and on postoperative day 2 (46 ± 7 vs 37 ± 4 mm Hg; P = .001). Cerebral diastolic blood flow velocity did not differ significantly between groups at any time point or over time, but cerebral systolic blood flow velocity was higher over time in the Blalock–Taussig group (P = .01). No significant differences in regional cerebral oxygen saturation were found between groups at baseline or after bypass. Blood flow velocities and cerebral oxygen saturation did not differ significantly according to use of regional low-flow perfusion.
Conclusions
The higher diastolic blood pressure after the modified Norwood procedure is not associated with higher cerebral blood flow velocities or regional cerebral oxygen saturation. This may imply an equal vulnerability to the cerebral injury associated with hemodynamic instability in the early postoperative period.
Abbreviations and Acronyms: CBF, cerebral blood flow, CBFV, cerebral blood flow velocity, CPB, cardiopulmonary bypass, DHCA, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, HLHS, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, POD, postoperative day, RLFP, regional low-flow cerebral perfusion, RV-PA, right ventricle–pulmonary artery, VD, peak end-diastolic flow velocity, VM, mean flow velocity, VS, peak systolic flow velocity
The Norwood procedure and its modifications are widely used as initial palliation for thypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) or other single ventricle variants requiring aortic arch reconstruction.1 Although outcomes have improved, postoperative hemodynamic instability with low systemic oxygen delivery in the early postoperative period is a significant contributing factor to early mortality.2, 3 After the Norwood procedure with pulmonary blood flow via a modified Blalock–Taussig shunt (MBTS), hemodynamic instability has been attributed in part to excessive pulmonary blood flow across the shunt and significant diastolic runoff from the coronary circulation.4 Over recent years, a modification to the Norwood procedure has been advocated that uses a right ventricle–pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduit instead of an MBTS to re-establish pulmonary blood supply.5 The use of an RV-PA conduit has been reported by several congenital heart centers to improve early mortality. This improvement has been explained by reduced blood flow to the pulmonary circulation during diastole and a higher diastolic blood pressure, thereby resulting in better coronary and end-organ perfusion.6
A number of studies have demonstrated that preschool and school-aged children with HLHS and other single ventricle lesions who have undergone the Norwood procedure have deficits on neurocognitive testing and behavioral abnormalities.7 Although factors affecting neurodevelopmental outcome in HLHS are multifactorial, critically low cerebral oxygenation occurs commonly in the early postoperative period after the Norwood operation.8 Low diastolic blood pressure in the early postoperative period may be an important risk factor for periventricular leukomalacia.9 It is unknown whether the higher diastolic blood pressure associated with the modified Norwood procedure using an RV-PA shunt improves cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation in the early postoperative period. The aim of this study was to compare cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation between neonates undergoing the Norwood procedure with an MBTS with those undergoing a modified Norwood procedure with an RV-PA conduit. We hypothesized that the higher diastolic blood pressure after the RV-PA conduit results in higher cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and improved cerebral oxygenation.
Materials and Methods
Patients
After written parental informed consent, neurologic monitoring was performed in neonates undergoing the Norwood procedure who had been enrolled in a study at Children’s Hospital Boston to evaluate the effect of triiodothyronine in neonatal heart surgery.10 Patients with (1) HLHS or another functional single ventricle lesion with aortic arch obstruction or (2) interrupted aortic arch and ventricular septal defect were prospectively randomized to evaluate the effect of a continuous infusion of triiodothyronine (0.05 μg
·kg−1·h−1) or placebo for 72 hours after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Patients were excluded if they had a birth weight less than 2.3 kg, preoperative tachyarrhythmia, clinical sepsis confirmed by culture, serum creatinine greater than 133 μmo1/L (1.5 mg/dL) within 24 hours of surgery, or a known thyroid or metabolic disorder. This secondary study was performed to evaluate only those patients with HLHS or other functional single ventricle lesion with aortic arch obstruction with the specific aim of comparing transcranial Doppler (TCD) blood flow velocity and cerebral tissue oxygen saturation between patients having the Norwood procedure with an MBTS versus an RV-PA conduit. Patient selection for this substudy was determined solely by the schedule of the investigators and was not influenced by patient characteristics. Randomization for the primary study was not affected, and no separate selection criteria were used in that surgeon and/or cardiologist preference determined the choice of MBTS or RV-PA conduit.
Clinical Techniques
Patients underwent the Norwood procedure either with an MBTS (3.0 or 3.5 mm) (NW-BT) or RV-PA conduit (5.0 mm) (NW-RVPA) with polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex; W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc, Flagstaff, Ariz). A pH-stat perfusion strategy was used in all patients. Methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg) and phentolamine (0.2 mg/kg) were administered at the initiation of CPB and phentolamine (0.2 mg/kg) at the onset of rewarming. Standard pump flow rates of 150 to 200 mL·kg−1 · min−l for full flow and 50 mL · kg−1·min−l for low flow were used. When the rectal temperature reached 18°C or lower and after at least 20 minutes of cooling, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) was begun. At the discretion of the attending surgeon, regional low-flow cerebral perfusion (RLFP) with pump flows of 20 to 40 mL·kg−1·min−l was performed at deep hypothermia during neoaortic and arch reconstruction through a polytetrafluoroethylene shunt anastomosed to the innominate artery. Continuous ultrafiltration was performed during rewarming.
Anesthetic technique was not specifically controlled but was conducted according to our institutional practice. High-dose opioid anesthesia (fentanyl 100 μg/kg) was supplemented with midazolam and/or isoflurane as tolerated, and neuromuscular blockade was achieved with pancuronium. The head was turned to just off the midline to prevent pressure or movement on the endotracheal tube by the surgical team while avoiding the possible effects of extremes of lateral head position on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and venous drainage.
Monitoring and Data Acquisition
A 2-Mz, range-gated, pulsed-wave TCD sonographic probe (Multi-Dop T; DWL Elektronische Systeme GmbH, Sipplingen, Germany) was placed over the right temporal window to measure middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity in the proximal (M1) segment of the middle cerebral artery. To ensure a reproducible window, the signal from the artery was adjusted to be accompanied by retrograde anterior cerebral artery flow (A1 segment). After an acceptable waveform had been achieved, the probe position was secured. Meticulous care was taken to ensure a constant position, insonation depth, sample volume, gain, and power of ultrasound for all measurements. Peak systolic flow velocity (VS), mean flow velocity (VM), and peak end-diastolic flow velocity (VD) were measured during hemodynamically stable intervals, with constant recordings of at least 15 seconds’ duration. Middle cerebral arterial resistance index (RI) was calculated according to the formula RI = (VS − VD)/VS.11
Bihemispheric cerebral tissue oxygen saturation was measured by near-infrared spectroscopy with the INVOS 5100 (Somanetics, Troy, Mich). After the induction of anesthesia, Pediatric SomaSensors (Somanetics) were placed on the right and left sides of the forehead according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. After an accommodation period, data collection was begun and downloaded to storage disk every 10 seconds throughout the case for further analysis. The scale unit for the regional saturation of oxygen (rSo2) is percent. As rSo2 is close to mixed venous oxygen saturation,12 cerebral extraction of oxygen (CEo2) can be estimated from the difference of arterial oxygen saturation (Sao2) and rSo2 (CEo2 = Sao2 − rSo2).13
Intraoperative and postoperative data were collected and analyzed at the following time points: after induction, initiation of CPB, 10 minutes after start of cooling, onset of low-flow CPB, onset of DHCA, resumption of low-flow CPB, start of rewarming, 10 minutes after start of rewarming, warm flow (35°C), immediately off CPB, 60 minutes after CPB, 6 hours after CPB, and postoperative day (POD) 1 and POD 2. Cardiac index, oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption, and inotrope score were determined postoperatively as previously described.10
Statistical Analysis
Patient characteristics, clinical data, laboratory data, TCD velocities, and cerebral oxygen saturation data were compared for patients in the NW-BT and NW-RVPA groups. Most continuous variables were approximately normally distributed and were summarized as the mean ± standard deviation; comparisons between groups were performed with the 2-sample t test. Continuous variables that were not normally distributed were summarized as the median (range) and compared with the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Categorical variables were compared by the Fisher exact test. Additional comparisons of TCD velocities controlling for hematocrit level were performed by linear regression analysis. Differences in the trends of serial measurements of TCD velocities, resistance indices, and cerebral rSo2 over time were assessed by 2-way analysis of variance with repeated measures on one factor. These variables were also compared for patients with and without RLFP within the NW-BT subgroup only by the 2-sample t test. Because all analyses were considered exploratory, no adjustments were made for multiple comparisons.
Results
Among 38 neonates undergoing a Norwood procedure during the study period, 27 (71%) underwent TCD sonography and cerebral oxygenation monitoring. These patients comprise the cohort for the present study.
Fourteen patients had NW-BT and 13 had NW-RVPA. Demographic data and CPB variables are presented in Table 1. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to demographic variables, diagnosis, or randomization to triiodothyronine. A similar number of patients in the NW-BT and NW-RVPA groups received triiodothyronine, and no differences in Doppler measurements or cerebral oxygenation were found between those neonates who received triiodothyronine versus those who did not. The NW-BT group had a significantly longer duration of CPB and shorter duration of DHCA. This was coupled with the use of RLFP in 10 patients, 9 in the NW-BT group and 1 in the NW-RVPA group (P = .004). The nadir tympanic temperature on CPB was 16.9°C ± 1.5°C in the NW-BT group and 18.9°C ± 4.0°C in the NW-RVPA group (P = .19); no differences in temperature were found between the groups at any time point.
TABLE 1. Patient characteristics
| Characteristic | NW-BT (n = 14) | NW-RVPA (n = 13) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age at operation (d) | 5(3-15) | 7(3-11) | .41 |
| Birth weight (kg) | 3.20 ± 0.55 | 3.48 ± 0.60 | .22 |
| Gestational age at birth (wk) | 38.9 ± 1.9 | 38.9 ± 1.8 | .76 |
| Male gender (%) | 6(42.9%) | 9(69.2%) | .25 |
| Diagnosis, n (%) | |||
| HLHS | 12(85.7%) | 11(84.6%) | 1.0 |
| Other SV with arch obstruction | 2(14.3%) | 2(15.4%) | |
| Randomized to T3 (%) | 7(50.0%) | 6(46.2%) | 1.0 |
| Duration of CPB (min) | 163 ± 31 | 133 ± 32 | .023 |
| Duration of aortic crossclamping (min) | 58 ± 17 | 53 ± 30 | .62 |
| Duration of DHCA (min) | 36 ± 19 | 51 ± 18 | .040 |
TCD data are presented in Table 2. The VD was similar in both groups overall, and at each individual time point. The NW-BT group had significantly higher VS overall (P = .01); in particular, it was higher at 60 minutes after CPB and on POD 1. There were no differences in cerebral VM between the groups apart from a higher value in the NW-BT group at 60 minutes after CPB. The resistance index immediately off CPB was lower in the NW-BT group, but there were no differences between groups at the other time points.
TABLE 2. TCD data
| Variable | NW-BT (n = 14) | NW-RVPA (n = 13) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| VS (cm/s) | |||
| Postinduction | 53±12 | 60±18 | .26 |
| Off CPB | 48±19 | 41±16 | .34 |
| 60 min after CPB | 54±14 | 41±10 | .01 |
| 6 h after CPB | 54±25 | 45±13 | .37 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 65±17 | 52±14 | .05 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 71±23 | 63±12 | .27 |
| VD (cm/s) | |||
| Postinduction | 9±9 | 10±11 | .69 |
| Off CPB | 4±5 | 1±2 | .06 |
| 60 min after CPB | 5±5 | 2±3 | .09 |
| 6 h after CPB | 4±4 | 5±6 | .67 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 9±8 | 11±7 | .55 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 10±7 | 11±7 | .67 |
| VM (cm/s) | |||
| Postinduction | 25±10 | 26±11 | .72 |
| Off CPB | 21±10 | 15±11 | .19 |
| 60 min after CPB | 23±7 | 14±5 | .001 |
| 6 h after CPB | 21±10 | 17±6 | .33 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 29±10 | 23±9 | .12 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 32±10 | 28±8 | .23 |
| RI | |||
| Postinduction | 0.85±0.15 | 0.85±0.15 | .97 |
| Off CPB | 0.90±0.12 | 0.98±0.04 | .04 |
| 60 min after CPB | 0.91±0.09 | 0.95±0.08 | .19 |
| 6 h after CPB | 0.94±0.06 | 0.89±0.12 | .42 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 0.87±0.11 | 0.81±0.10 | .14 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 0.86±0.08 | 0.82±0.10 | .21 |
Within-group comparison of mean left and right rSO2 and CEo2 at each time point found no differences between the left and right sides. Mean rSo2 and CEo2 values for the right side (same side as TCD sonography) are presented in Table 3. There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to rSo2 or CEo2 at any time point except for a higher rSo2 in the NW-BT group at the end of DHCA (75% ± 19% vs 58% ± 9%; P = .01). According to repeated-measures analysis of variance, changes in rSo2 and CEo2 over time were similar in the NW-BT and NW-RVPA groups. Comparing the 9 NW-BT patients who had RLFP to the 5 without, we found no statistically significant differences in middle cerebral artery velocities, resistance indices, and rSo2 measurements.
TABLE 3. Cerebral oxygenation data
| Right rSo2 (%) | Right CEo2 (%) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NW-BT (n = 14) | NW-RVPA (n = 13) | P value | NW-BT (n = 14) | NW-RVPA (n = 13) | P value | |
| Postinduction | 61±15 | 60±6 | .91 | 33±16 | 34±6 | .85 |
| On CPB | 71±17 | 73±8 | .79 | 29±15 | 26±10 | .71 |
| 10 min after cooling | 92±7 | 93±4 | .59 | 9±8 | 7±5 | .59 |
| Onset DHCA | 92±6 | 94±3 | .55 | 7±4 | 6±1 | .59 |
| Resume CPB | 75±19 | 58±9 | .01 | 26±23 | 45 | — |
| Warm flow | 80±11 | 82±10 | .55 | 20±12 | 18±10 | .63 |
| Off CPB | 61±14 | 62±14 | .92 | 21±9 | 22±12 | .80 |
| 60 min after CPB | 54±12 | 52±11 | .65 | 30±13 | 25±12 | .31 |
| 6 h after CPB | 45±11 | 51±8 | .20 | 35±10 | 26±9 | .09 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 57±10 | 54±7 | .47 | 25±9 | 22±10 | .36 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 57±8 | 52±8 | .18 | 22±10 | 25±7 | .41 |
Comparison of those patients who had RLFP (n = 10) with those who had DHCA (n = 17) found no differences in CBFVs (VS, VD, or VM) at any time point. The mean rSo2 was higher at the end of RLFP than at the end of DHCA (79% ± 17% vs 62% ± 14%; P = .02), but there were no differences in rSo2 at any other time point and CEo2 was the same for both groups at all time points. The rSo2 values for each group (data not presented) were similar to those shown for the NW-BT and NW-RVPA groups in Table 3.
Clinical and laboratory data are presented in TABLE 4, TABLE 5, respectively.
TABLE 4. Clinical data
| Variable | NW-BT (n = 14) | NW-RVPA (n = 13) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Systemic blood pressure (mm Hg) | |||
| Postinduction | 68±9 | 69±9 | .82 |
| Off CPB | 62±9 | 61±8 | .81 |
| 60 min after CPB | 70±12 | 69±11 | .75 |
| 6 h after CPB | 69±12 | 73±10 | .56 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 68±14 | 70±9 | .70 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 69±10 | 73±8 | .36 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | |||
| Postinduction | 40±7 | 36±8 | .17 |
| Off CPB | 34±7 | 35±8 | .68 |
| 60 min after CPB | 39±6 | 42±7 | .23 |
| 6 h after CPB | 40±4 | 46±7 | .03 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 37±5 | 45±6 | .002 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 37±4 | 46±7 | .001 |
| Mean blood pressure (mm Hg) | |||
| Postinduction | 51±6 | 47±7 | .13 |
| Off CPB | 45±6 | 45±7 | .83 |
| 60 min after CPB | 51±7 | 53±6 | .42 |
| 6 h after CPB | 49±7 | 55±8 | .11 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 48±9 | 53±7 | .07 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 48±5 | 55±7 | .01 |
| Cerebral perfusion pressure (mm Hg) | |||
| Postinduction | 43±6 | 41±9 | .41 |
| On CPB | 40±10 | 37±11 | .49 |
| 10 min after cooling | 33±9 | 30±8 | .51 |
| Onset DHCA | 20±6 | 18±12 | .68 |
| Resume CPB | 23±10 | 19±11 | .58 |
| Warm flow | 43±12 | 36±8 | .12 |
| Off CPB | 36±5 | 35±8 | .49 |
| 60 min after CPB | 40±6 | 40±7 | .93 |
| 6 h after CPB | 41±8 | 47±10 | .17 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 39±8 | 45±7 | .10 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 40±5 | 46±8 | .03 |
| Sao2 (%) | |||
| Postinduction | 93±6 | 94±5 | .84 |
| On CPB | 100±0 | 96±7 | .14 |
| 10 min after cooling | 100±0 | 100±0 | — |
| Off CPB | 82±14 | 82±11 | .94 |
| 60 min after CPB | 84±7 | 76±10 | .03 |
| 6 h after CPB | 79±8 | 77±4 | .69 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 82±3 | 76±8 | .02 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 79±5 | 77±7 | .51 |
TABLE 5. Laboratory data
| Variable | NW-BT (n = 14) | NW-RVPA (n = 13) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hematocrit (%) | |||
| Postinduction | 38.9±3.8 | 40.8±3.9 | .21 |
| 10 min after cooling | 30.5±2.7 | 30.1±3.7 | .74 |
| Off CPB | 36.4±4.3 | 37.1±2.9 | .65 |
| 60 min after CPB | 36.8±4.2 | 35.9±5.5 | .68 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 44.2±5.4 | 47.4±4.3 | .11 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 41.0±4.6 | 45.8±5.3 | .02 |
| Paco2 (mm Hg) | |||
| Postinduction | 43.5±6.6 | 42.6±5.3 | .70 |
| 10 min after cooling | 46.6±7.8 | 43.7±5.9 | .31 |
| Off CPB | 38.2±4.0 | 37.4±5.8 | .69 |
| 60 min after CPB | 43.4±7.7 | 40.5±6.4 | .31 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 46.8±6.4 | 43.8±8.6 | .33 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 44.8±9.0 | 48.4±7.5 | .30 |
| Pao2 (mm Hg) | |||
| Postinduction | 75±21 | 80±45 | .72 |
| 10 min after cooling | 691±211 | 653±189 | .64 |
| Off CPB | 44±10 | 40±9 | .36 |
| 60 min after CPB | 74±102 | 39±9 | .22 |
| 6 h after CPB | 43±7 | 35±5 | .04 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 43±6 | 37±3 | .002 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 42±3 | 36±5 | .002 |
| pH | |||
| Postinduction | 7.42±0.08 | 7.42±0.09 | .95 |
| 10 min after cooling | 7.35±0.06 | 7.39±0.05 | .08 |
| Off CPB | 7.44±0.05 | 7.47±0.05 | .15 |
| 60 min after CPB | 7.38±0.08 | 7.42±0.04 | .12 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 7.41±0.05 | 7.46±0.08 | .08 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 7.43±0.07 | 7.45±0.05 | .24 |
| Lactate (mmol/L) | |||
| Postinduction | 2.4±1.8 | 2.2±1.3 | .76 |
| 10 min after cooling | 3.4±1.4 | 3.0±0.9 | .34 |
| Off CPB | 6.1±1.4 | 7.1±3.3 | .40 |
| 60 min after CPB | 6.6±2.3 | 7.2±2.1 | .52 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 2.6±0.6 | 3.4±3.9 | .48 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 1.4±0.3 | 1.4±0.6 | .96 |
| Svo2 (%) | |||
| Postinduction | 64.0±17.0 | 56.8±11.8 | .26 |
| 10 min after cooling | 99.9±0.3 | 91.8±28.2 | .33 |
| Off CPB | 59.4±21.0 | 69.6±20.2 | .47 |
| 60 min after CPB | 52.1±25.6 | 54.3±14.5 | .88 |
| 6 h after CPB | 49.4±17.8 | 43.3±23.0 | .69 |
| POD 1 (24 h) | 48.2±10.6 | 49.8±12.2 | .78 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 48.8±8.7 | 48.6±13.9 | .98 |
Diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the NW-RVPA group at 6 hours after CPB (46 ± 7 vs 40 ± 4 mm Hg; P = .03), on POD 1 (45 ± 6 vs 37 ± 5 mm Hg; P = .002), and on POD 2 (46 ± 7 vs 37 ± 4 mm Hg; P = .001). Systolic blood pressure was not different between groups at any time point. Mean blood pressure in the NW-RVPA group tended to be higher on POD 1 and was significantly higher on POD 2 (55 ± 7 vs 48 ± 5 mm Hg; P = .01). Heart rates tended to be lower in the NW-RVPA group postoperatively (data not presented). Cerebral perfusion pressure (mean blood pressure minus central venous pressure or right atrial pressure) was higher in the NW-RVPA group on POD 2 (46 ± 8 vs 40 ± 5 mm Hg; P = .03) but was similar at the other time points. There were no significant differences between groups with respect to hematocrit apart from a higher hematocrit on POD 2 in the NW-RVPA group (45.8% ± 5.3% vs 41.0% ± 4.6%; P = .02). The groups did not differ in VD even after adjusting for hematocrit level. The arterial partial pressures of carbon dioxide (Paco2) and arterial pH were similar at all time points. Arterial oxygen tension (Pao2) was significantly lower in the NW-RVPA group at 6 hours after CPB (35 ± 5 vs 43 ± 7 mm Hg; P = .04), on POD 1 (37 ± 3 vs 43 ± 6 mm Hg; P = .002), and POD 2 (36 ± 5 vs 42 ± 3 mm Hg; P = .002) despite use of higher fractional inspired oxygen concentrations (Fio2; P = .001). The Pao2/Fio2 ratios were thus lower for the NW-RVPA group at these time points.
Indirect indices of cardiac output, namely arterial lactate and mixed venous oxygen saturation, did not differ between groups at any time point (Table 5).
Cardiac index was only measured in 12 NW-BT patients and 6 NW-RVPA patients (P = 0.79) because of lack of or inadequate position of a central venous line or unreliable oxygen consumption data (Fio2 > 0.4). Mean cardiac index, oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption, and oxygen delivery/oxygen consumption ratio were the same in both groups at 48 hours postoperatively (Table 6). The NW-BT group had a higher inotrope score on POD 2 and a higher cumulative 5-day inotrope score (78.5 ± 22.0 vs 47.3 ± 29.9; P = .005). Coronary perfusion pressure (calculated as mean diastolic blood pressure minus atrial pressure) was higher in the NW-RVPA group on POD 1 (36 ± 7 vs 29 ± 4; P = .02) and POD 2 (35 ± 4 vs 27 ± 6; P = .004), with a trend to a higher score at 6 hours after CPB. Serum creatinine was lower in the NW-RVPA group on POD 1 (0.64 ± 0.18 vs 0.81 ± 0.21; P = .04) and POD 2 (0.59 ± 0.23 vs 0.79 ± 0.17; P = .02), with a trend to lower blood urea nitrogen postoperatively. Urine output in the first 24 hours was lower in the NW-RVPA group (393 ± 150 vs 269 ± 117; P = 0.02), but not subsequently. There were no differences between the groups with respect to recovery after surgery. There were no in-hospital deaths, and the incidence of serious adverse events, including cardiac arrest, seizures, and infectious complications, did not differ between the groups.
TABLE 6. ICU data
| Variable | NW-BT | NW-RVPA | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiac index POD 2 (48 h) (L · min−1 · m−2) | 2.08±0.66 | 2.18±0.78 | .79 |
| Do2 POD 2 (48 h) (mL · min−1 · m−2) | 66.7±23.1 | 69.7±24.7 | .81 |
| Vo2 POD 2 (48 h) (mL · min−1 · m−2) | 21.9±5.8 | 23.6±4.5 | .54 |
| Do2/Vo2 ratio | 3.09±0.93 | 2.92±0.71 | .69 |
| Inotrope score | |||
| POD 1 (24 h) | 10.2±5.1 | 11.0±5.3 | .7 |
| POD 2 (48 h) | 19.1±5.5 | 13.9±6.6 | .04 |
| Duration of mechanical ventilation (d) | 7.9 (3.7-38.0) | 4.9 (2.0-31.1) | .21 |
| Length of ICU stay (d) | 12 (5-96) | 8 (4-45) | .19 |
| Length of hospital stay (d) | 20 (10-112) | 16 (9-78) | .14 |
Discussion
The principal finding of this study is that the modified Norwood procedure with RV-PA conduit, compared with the Norwood with MBTS, is not associated with higher CBFVs or with improved regional cerebral oxygen saturation despite the higher postoperative diastolic blood pressures. As compared with neonates who undergo the Norwood procedure with an MBTS, our results may imply an equal vulnerability to the cerebral injury associated with hemodynamic instability and decreased oxygen delivery in the early postoperative period.
TCD has been used in pediatric cardiac surgery to assess CBF.14 Although TCD has been found to correlate well with CBF estimated by xenon 133 clearance, thermodilution, and microsphere techniques,14, 15, 16 it is best used to observe changes rather than to quantitate specific regional flow in a particular area. The Fick (Kety-Schmidt) and xenon 133 clearance methods are the gold standard techniques for measuring CBF, but they are invasive, cumbersome, expensive, and not practical for routine clinical use. TCD is a noninvasive means to estimate cerebral volume flow in the larger conduction vessels at the base of the brain,17 and it is reproducible,18 inexpensive, portable, and widely available. Blood flow through a vessel is equal to the instantaneous average velocity times the cross-sectional area of the vessel and is based on the assumption that the cross-sectional area and the flow profile of the cerebral vessel remain constant during the period of investigation.19 In clinical practice, because the actual vessel diameter and perfusion territory of the interrogated cerebral artery are not known, only inferences can be made regarding blood flow from velocity measurements.
In our study, a higher diastolic blood pressure was found in the NW-RVPA group from 6 hours after CPB, but without a corresponding increase in diastolic and mean CBFVs. Decreased CBF after DHCA has been found in the period during rewarming and after bypass and can persist into the early postoperative period.20, 21 Diastolic CBFV has been shown to normalize 54 to 328 minutes after DHCA.22 Although very low diastolic velocities may limit the ability to detect differences between the groups (technical considerations),11 any significant difference should be detectable at the higher baseline (postinduction) velocities seen on the first POD. The same diastolic velocities, as well as the return to baseline values, found between the NW-BT and NW-RVPA groups postoperatively, are highly suggestive of recovery of cerebrovascular autoregulation by POD 1. Recent evidence suggests that cerebrovascular pressure autoregulation is disturbed at 6 hours after surgery in only 13% of infants who have undergone greater than 20 minutes of DHCA.23 The similar mean velocities between the groups further support this, despite a higher cerebral perfusion pressure in the NW-RVPA group on POD 2. The VS and VM in the NW-BT group at 60 minutes after CPB were significantly higher, despite no differences between the groups in any of the measured factors known to influence CBFV.24 Although speculative and needing further study, one explanation may be the use of RLFP and the shorter duration of DHCA in the NW-BT group.
Measurement of regional cerebral oxygen saturation by near-infrared spectroscopy found no differences in oxygenation between the groups after separation from CPB. As the rSo2 is a measure of tissue (arterial, venous, capillary) hemoglobin oxygen saturation, it is not surprising that the small difference in dissolved oxygen content associated with the higher Pao2 in the NW-BT group from 6 hours after CPB had no measurable effect on the rSo2 (assuming similar cerebral oxygen consumption). Because the INVOS 5100 uses a weighted average for the arterial/venous ratio for the cerebral circulation of 25:75, the slightly higher arterial oxygen saturation in the NW-BT group may not be large enough to cause a measurable difference by cerebral oximetry. This study supports previous findings that indicators of early postoperative systemic oxygen delivery are equivalent in neonates who have undergone the Norwood procedure with an MBTS versus an RV-PA conduit.25 However, because of the small number of measurements of cardiac index, oxygen delivery, and oxygen consumption, further investigation is warranted.
The higher rSo2 at the end of DHCA in the NW-BT group is most likely explained by the shorter duration of arrest and the more frequent use of RLFP. Analysis of the data by RLFP versus DHCA groups found a higher rSo2 in the RLFP group at the end of the arrest period, but no differences in cerebral oxygenation and perfusion after CPB. Cerebral oxygenation has been shown to decrease after CPB during stage I palliation with an MBTS and use of RLFP,26 a finding supported by the results of our study. The same pattern of decreased rSo2 is however also seen in those patients who had DHCA without RLFP, and it implies a similar risk to the cerebral circulation after CPB.
Important limitations of this study are the relatively small number of patients in each surgical group and randomization by triiodothyronine rather than by type of shunt or use of RLFP. As this was a substudy, power calculations for sample size were not done ahead of time. Availability of personnel trained in TCD sonography resulted in neurologic monitoring being performed in 27 of the 38 eligible patients enrolled in the primary study. The small sample size limits the power to detect differences both within and between the groups. This would also explain the lack of a significant difference in recovery after surgery, as has previously been shown in our institution.27
In conclusion, this study found that the higher diastolic blood pressure after the Norwood procedure with an RV-PA conduit is not associated with higher CBFVs or rSo2s. In highly autoregulated beds such as the cerebral circulation, the Norwood procedure with an RV-PA conduit may offer no particular advantage with respect to cerebral perfusion in the early postoperative period.15
We acknowledge Ludmila Kyn for database and statistical programming; research nurses Jodi Elder, RN, and Ellen McGrath, RN, for assistance with data collection; and Donna Donati and Donna Duva for data management.
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Dr Kussman
Supported by the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine Funds, the Glaser Pediatric Research Network, and grant RRO02172 from the National Institutes of Health.
PII: S0022-5223(06)01768-5
doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2006.09.034
© 2007 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Volume 133, Issue 3 , Pages 648-655, March 2007
