BACKGROUND: Prolonged elevated blood lactate levels strongly correlate with poor outcomes in a variety of critically ill patients. We hypothesized that the dynamic postoperative changes in blood lactate levels during the first 24 h were significantly associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a single-center prospective observational study of 114 consecutive patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery from September 2009 to December 2010. Blood lactate was determined postoperatively at 6 h intervals during the first 24 h. In-hospital complications and deaths occurring within 30 d of enrollment were included in the data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 88 postoperative complications were recorded in 51 patients (44.7%). There was a significant difference in blood lactate levels among patients with no, minor, and major complications (ANOVA, Groups, P < 0.001; time, P < 0.001; groups × time interaction, P = 0.014). The accuracy of lactate levels to predict both overall and major complications increased postoperatively from 0 h to 24 h. Using a multivariate analysis, the time-weighted average lactate was independently predictive of both overall (OR 7.108, 95% CI 2.271-22.249, P = 0.001) and major (OR 3.277, 95% CI 1.363-7.877, P = 0.008) postoperative complications, and lactate clearance at 0-24 h (OR 0.217, CI 0.077-0.616, P = 0.004) was independently predictive of major postoperative complications. The optimal time-weighted average lactate cutoff value for complication prediction was 1.46 mmol/L; below this level, both overall and major complication rates were significantly reduced, which was true even after adjusting for potential confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: The dynamic changes in blood lactate levels during the first 24 postoperative h were significantly associated with complications after major elective abdominal surgery. This result warrants a "golden hour and silver day" perspective of early resuscitation in this patient cohort.
BACKGROUND: Prolonged elevated blood lactate levels strongly correlate with poor outcomes in a variety of critically illpatients. We hypothesized that the dynamic postoperative changes in blood lactate levels during the first 24 h were significantly associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a single-center prospective observational study of 114 consecutive patients undergoing elective major abdominal surgery from September 2009 to December 2010. Blood lactate was determined postoperatively at 6 h intervals during the first 24 h. In-hospital complications and deaths occurring within 30 d of enrollment were included in the data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 88 postoperative complications were recorded in 51 patients (44.7%). There was a significant difference in blood lactate levels among patients with no, minor, and major complications (ANOVA, Groups, P < 0.001; time, P < 0.001; groups × time interaction, P = 0.014). The accuracy of lactate levels to predict both overall and major complications increased postoperatively from 0 h to 24 h. Using a multivariate analysis, the time-weighted average lactate was independently predictive of both overall (OR 7.108, 95% CI 2.271-22.249, P = 0.001) and major (OR 3.277, 95% CI 1.363-7.877, P = 0.008) postoperative complications, and lactate clearance at 0-24 h (OR 0.217, CI 0.077-0.616, P = 0.004) was independently predictive of major postoperative complications. The optimal time-weighted average lactate cutoff value for complication prediction was 1.46 mmol/L; below this level, both overall and major complication rates were significantly reduced, which was true even after adjusting for potential confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: The dynamic changes in blood lactate levels during the first 24 postoperative h were significantly associated with complications after major elective abdominal surgery. This result warrants a "golden hour and silver day" perspective of early resuscitation in this patient cohort.
Authors: Ayman Anis Metry; Adham F Tawfik; George M Nakhla; Rami M Wahba; Milad Z Ragaei; Fady A Abdelmalek Journal: Anesth Essays Res Date: 2019 Apr-Jun