Hypotension Associated with MTS is Aggravated by Early Activation of TEA During Open Esophagectomy.

OBJECTIVE: A mesenteric traction syndrome (MTS) is elicited by prostacyclin (PGI2)-induced vasodilation and identified by facial flushing, tachycardia, and hypotension during abdominal surgery. We evaluated whether thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) influences the incidence of MTS.
DESIGN: Randomized, blinded controlled trial.
SETTING: Single-center university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty patients undergoing open esophagectomy.
INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to either early (EA, after induction of general anesthesia) or late activation of TEA (LA, after re-established gastric continuity). Plasma 6-keto-PGF1α, a stable metabolite of PGI2 and interleukine-6 (IL6) were measured in plasma during surgery along with hemodynamic variables and MTS graded according to facial flushing together with plasma C-reactive protein on the third post-operative day.
RESULTS: Forty-five patients met the inclusion criteria. Development of MTS tended to be more prevalent with EA (n=13/25 [52%]) than with LA TEA (n=5/20 [25%], p=0.08). For patients who developed MTS, there was a transient increase in plasma 6-keto-PGF1α by 15 min of surgery and plasma IL6 (p<0.001) as C-reactive protein (P<0.009) increased. EA TEA influenced the amount of phenylephrine needed to maintain mean arterial pressure >60 mmHg in patients who developed MTS (0.16 [0.016-0.019] mg/min vs MTS and LA TEA 0.000 [0.000-0.005] mg/min, p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: The incidence of MTS is not prevented by TEA in patients undergoing open esophagectomy. On the contrary, the risk of hypotension is increased in patients exposed to TEA during surgery, and the results suggest that it is advantageous to delay activation of TEA. Also, MTS seems to be associated with a systemic inflammatory response, maybe explaining the aggravated post-operative outcome.

Introduction

A mesenteric traction syndrome (MTS) manifests during abdominal surgery with a frequency of up to 80% for open procedures.1–3 MTS is defined by a triad of hypotension, tachycardia, and facial flushing most often elicited within 20 min after skin incision.2,4 The hypotensive episode is usually moderate5,6 lasting for only about 30 min after facial flushing7 but may be severe and even unresponsive to vasopressor treatment.8–10 Furthermore, the development of MTS is associated with severe postoperative complications after open esophagectomy3 as with other types of major abdominal surgery.11 The pathophysiological link between the development of MTS and complication rate may include hypotension12,13 and induction of a systemic inflammatory response syndrome.14,15

The cardiovascular response to MTS involves reduced peripheral vascular resistance facilitated by prostacyclin (PGI2) released to plasma5,14 triggered by manipulation of vascular endothelial cells in the mesentery and small intestine16 to maintain splanchnic blood flow.17,18 For example, plasma PGI2 increases in response to splanchnic ischemia and withdrawal of blood in animals,19–21 and with MTS the PGI2 response seems to elicit hemodynamic instability. Also, the release of plasma PGI2 is stimulated by factors that influence splanchnic vessel tone and blood flow; eg the incidence of MTS increases when remifentanil (a vasodilative agent) rather than fentanyl is administered during surgery.4 Whether MTS also involves a neural component is not known but can be evaluated because major abdominal surgery is performed often under cover of neuraxial anesthesia.

Thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) is provided for open major abdominal surgery and inhibits sympathetic drive to the splanchnic vessels, affecting both blood pressure and the splanchnic blood flow.22,23 Here, we evaluated whether TEA influences the incidence of MTS during open esophagectomy as determined by hemodynamic variables and facial flushing. TEA was activated either early (EA), ie after induction of general anesthesia before abdominal incision, or late (LA), ie after the gastroesophageal continuity was re-established by the end of surgery. Furthermore, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukine-6 (IL6) were examined to evaluate a link to a systemic inflammatory response.

Patients and Methods

This study was a blinded, randomized controlled trial conducted between 2014–2016.24 The study was registered at the European Medicines Agency (EudraCT 2014-002036-14) as approved by the Scientific Ethical Committee, The Capital Region, Denmark (H-2-2013-101 by July 14th 2014) and the Danish Health and Medicines Authority (No. 2014060551 by August 8th 2014), and was monitored by the Good Clinical Practice unit at Copenhagen University Hospital (No. 2014-4661). Verbal and written consent was obtained from the patients before enrolment. The primary outcome was the influence of EA vs LA TEA on the incidence of facial flushing to indicate MTS. Secondary outcomes were hemodynamic variables, plasma 6-keto-PGF1α, a stable metabolite of PGI2, and markers of systemic inflammation in response to surgery: CRP and IL6.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Adults with a biopsy verified gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma scheduled for open Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy25 were included. Moreover, access to flushing data, hemodynamic variables, and blood samples obtained during surgery were required for inclusion, but patients were excluded if TEA was contraindicated (allergy to local anesthetics, skin infection, and/or coagulation deficits) or disseminated disease was identified during surgery.

Randomization and Blinding

Block-randomization was used () and numbered envelopes padded by non-transparent paper ensured blinded allocation of patients to either EA or LA TEA. The randomization sequence was concealed from the principal investigator by ensuring entrance to the operating room only after induction of anesthesia and he left the room (for about 10 min) during re-establishment of gastric continuity.

Anesthesia

An epidural catheter (Epidural Minipack System 1, Smiths Medical, Hranice, CZ) was placed at the 7–8th or 8–9th thoracic intervertebral space by the loss of resistance technique with intravascular placement ruled out by lack of response to administration of 4 mL lidocaine/adrenaline (20 mg/5 µg/mL). Initiation of TEA was by a bolus injection of 4 mL bupivacaine (5 mg/mL) followed by administration of bupivacaine/morphine (2.5 mg/50 μg/mL) at 4 mL/h.

Induction and maintenance of general anesthesia were with propofol (induction: 2.0 mg/kg; maintenance 5–10 mg/kg/h), remifentanil (induction: 0.5 µg/kg; maintenance: 1.75–2.25 mg/h), and cisatracurium guided by “train of four“ monitoring to facilitate the placement of a double-lumen endobronchial tube. Also, a catheter was placed in the radial artery of the non-dominant arm and a central venous line was used for the administration of blood products and fluid.

Lactated Ringer’s solution (3 mL/kg/h) was administered and human albumin 5% replaced the blood loss 1:1. In addition, ephedrine (0.1–0.2 mL [50 mg/mL]) and/or phenylephrine (0.1–0.2 mL [1 mg/mL]) were administered if mean arterial pressure (MAP) fell below 60 mmHg.

Facial Flushing

MTS was graded according to the intraoperative facial flushing score as evaluated by the principal investigator within the first hour of surgery.11,26 The nurse anesthesiologist confirmed the evaluation and in case of disagreement, the assessment was discussed among them. Development of severe MTS was defined as flushing including the face, neck, shoulders, and upper torso.4 Moderate MTS was flushing of the cheeks or forehead, and non-MTS as the absence of flushing. For analysis, the patients were allocated into two groups, ie MTS vs moderate or non-MTS, because non-MTS and moderate MTS are difficult to distinguish.26

Plasma Variables

Plasma 6-keto-PGF1α, a stable metabolite of PGI2, was measured from arterial blood collected after induction of anesthesia, after laparotomy, by 15 min of surgery, and after mobilization of the stomach. Furthermore, plasma for IL6 was obtained at baseline, by the end of surgery, and 18 h postoperatively and for C-reactive protein on postoperative day 3.

EDTA tubes were used for the blood samples and centrifuged at 3.000 rpm for 10 min at 4◦C and the plasma stored at −80°C until analysis. Plasma 6-keto-PGF1α was determined by an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit (ADI-900-00, Enzo Life Science, Lörrach, DE). Plasma IL6 was measured by a Bio-plex Pro Human Chemokine Assays (Bio-Rad, CA, USA) and CRP by a particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (Roche Diagnostics, Basel, CH).

Hemodynamic Variables

Together with the blood-samples hemodynamic variables were obtained by pulse wave analysis (Nexfin, BMEYE BV, Amsterdam, NL) attained from the radial artery including MAP, heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) recorded as 30 s averages.

Statistics

The statistical analysis was by SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. Armonk, NY, USA) and graphs constructed by GraphPad Prism Software (Version 7.0, San Diego, CA, USA). Data were tested for normality using the Shapiro–Wilk test and for data not normally distributed logarithmic transformation was applied. For measurements within-groups during surgery, variables were tested by one-way ANOVA with repeated measures and Bonferroni correction. To test for differences between groups at a single time point, a Student’s t-test was applied. To evaluate predictors for developing MTS, a univariate analysis was conducted using a X2-test, Fisher’s exact test, or linear regression analysis as appropriate, and associations with a p-value <0.20 were explored in multivariate analyses. MTS is reported in 68% (open) and 20% (robot-assisted esophagectomy) of patients with EA TEA (open) and LA TEA (robot-assisted), respectively.3 A power calculation indicated that 16 patients were required in each group to detect a difference of 48% in the incidence of MTS between patients randomized to EA and LA TEA (beta: 0.80 and alpha: 0.05). To account for dropouts, 25 patients were included in each group. Data represent mean ± SD and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Fifty patients met the inclusion criteria, but five patients were excluded (Figure 1). Hence, 25 (EA) and 20 (LA) patients were randomized to TEA. The baseline characteristics were balanced between groups (Table 1).

Figure 1

Consort flow chart.

Table 1

Baseline and Intraoperative Characteristics for Patients with Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia (TEA) Activated Either Early or Late During Esophagectomy

	Early TEA	Late TEA
Sex, male/female, n	20/5	16/4
Age, years	64.1 ±7.8	65.1 ±7.8
BMI, kg/m2	27.5 ±3.3	27.9 ±4.7
ASA score	2.2 ±0.5	2.2 ±0.4
Length of operation, min	262 ±46	253 ±44
Blood loss, mL	813 ±469	736 ±389
MTS, n (%)
None	4/25 (16%)	7/20 (35%)
Moderate	8/25 (32%)	8/20 (40%)
Severe	13/25 (52%)	5/20 (25%)

Note: Values are means ±SD.

Abbreviations: ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists; BMI, body mass index; MTS, mesenteric traction syndrome.

Within the first hour of surgery 13/25 (EA, 52%) and 5/20 (LA, 25%) patients developed MTS. There was a non-significant association between EA TEA and the development of MTS in uni- (p=0.078) and ordinal regression analysis (p=0.071) (Table 2).

Table 2

Uni- and Multivariate Analysis

Univariate Analysis		Ordinal Regression
Variables	P-value	Odds ratio (95% CI)	P-value
Age ≥ 65 vs < 65 years	0.763
EA vs LA TEA	0.078	1.2 (−0.1–2.5)	0.071
ASA score >2 vs ≤ 2	0.445
BMI ≥ 27 vs < 27 kg/h2	0.767
Vasopressor > 2 vs ≤ 2 boluses after induction of anesthesia	0.760

Notes: Dependent variable: non-MTS vs +MTS. Univariate analysis by X2 or Fisher’s exact test. Results with a p-value ≤ 0.20 was included in the ordinal regression model.

Abbreviations: EA and LA, early and late activation of thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA); ASA, American Society of Anaesthesiologists; BMI, body mass index.

Plasma 6-Keto-PGF1α

At baseline, plasma 6-keto-PGF1α was with no explanation lower in patients without MTS as compared with those who manifested MTS (p=0.047) (Table 3). By 15 min of surgery, plasma 6-keto-PGF1α increased in all patients, but became about four times higher in those who developed MTS than in those who did not (p<0.001).

Table 3

Prostacyclin and Hemodynamic Changes During Esophagectomy

	Baseline	After Laparotomy	15 Min of Surgery	After Mobilization of the Stomach
6-keto-PGF1α (pg/mL)
EA -MTS	166 (102–262)	408 (251–1081)	1965 (1601–2911)b	1496 (963–2846)b
LA -MTS	306 (128–474)	385 (156–805)	1352 (723–2010)b	928 (516–1495)b, *
EA +MTS		1574 (537–3230)b	4378 (2529–9917)b	1668 (999–2433)b
LA +MTS		590 (460–1206)	5893 (5028–6806)b	1531 (960–2878)b
MAP (mmHg)
EA -MTS	73 ± 15	64 ± 14	63 ± 12b	67 ± 12
LA -MTS		74 ± 11	75 ± 14	67 ± 10
EA +MTS	71 ± 15	63 ± 16	60 ± 9	65 ± 8
LA +MTS		87 ± 10*	84 ± 15*	68 ± 9
HR (beat/min)
EA -MTS	63 ± 14	69 ± 20	71 ± 10	68 ± 13
LA -MTS		59 ± 9	71 ± 12a	70 ± 9
EA +MTS	70 ± 12	62 ± 10	70 ± 12a	64 ± 9
LA +MTS		69 ± 9	89 ± 14a, *	77 ± 12*
SVR (dyn·s/cm5)
EA -MTS	1374 ± 479	1233 ± 242	943 ± 234a, b	1136 ± 219b
LA -MTS		1405 ± 589	1065 ± 393a, b	1117 ± 497b
EA +MTS	1324 ± 347	1110 ± 359b	855 ± 173b	1130 ± 198
LA +MTS		1437 ± 367	926 ± 278a	1161 ± 269
CO (l/min)
EA -MTS	4.7 ± 1.1	4.5 ± 0.9	5.5 ± 1.0a, b	4.9 ± 1.1
LA -MTS		4.5 ± 0.9	5.6 ± 0.9a, b	4.9 ± 0.8
EA +MTS	4.9 ± 0.8	4.8 ± 1.	5.9 ± 1.2 a, b	4.8 ± 0.8
LA +MTS		5.1 ± 1.2	7.7 ± 1.4b, *	5.0 ± 0.8

Notes: Values are means ± SD or median (IQR). *p<0.05, different compared to the between-group value. ap<0.05, different from “after laparotomy” within groups. bp<0.05, different from “baseline” within groups.

Abbreviations: EA and LA, early and late activated thoracic epidural anesthesia, respectively; +MTS, mesenteric traction syndrome; -MTS, non or moderate mesenteric traction syndrome; MAP, mean arterial pressure; HR, heart rate; SVR, systemic vascular resistance; CO, cardiac output.

In patients with EA TEA developing MTS, plasma 6-keto-PGF1α increased from after laparotomy and to a peak by 15 min of surgery while in the patients with LA TEA and MTS plasma 6-keto-PGF1α increased only by 15 min of surgery. However, for the five patients who developed MTS with LA TEA, the increase in plasma 6-keto-PGF1α reached a similar level by 15 min as compared with patients developing MTS in the EA group (Figure 2, Table 3). Similarly, by 15 min of surgery, plasma 6-keto-PGF1α was not significantly different in non-MTS patients in the two groups (p=0.095). By the end of the abdominal procedure, ie after mobilization of the stomach approximately 1 h after skin incision, plasma 6-keto-PGF1α decreased in patients with MTS (EA: p=0.005 and LA: p=0.049) and became similar to that in patients without MTS (Table 3).

Figure 2

Plasma 6-keto-PGF1α and hemodynamic variables in patients developing MTS Values are mean ±SD (hemodynamic variables) or median (IQR; plasma 6-keto-PGF1α). *Difference between groups, p<0.05. For within-group differences please see Table 3.

Plasma IL6

By the end of surgery plasma IL6 was higher in patients with MTS than in those who did not develop MTS (p=0.008) (Table 5). The increase in plasma IL6 was associated with both the development of MTS (r=0.320, p=0.034) and with EA TEA (r=0.425, p=0.001).

Table 5

Perioperative Changes in Plasma Interleukin-6

	Baseline	End of Surgery	18 h Postoperatively
Non or moderate MTS	1 (1–3)	108 (46–204)	61 (33–83)
+MTS	1 (1–2)	175 (131–277)*	95 (34–113)

Notes: Values are medians (IQR). *p<0.05, different between groups.

Abbreviations: EA and LA, early and late activated thoracic epidural anesthesia, respectively; +MTS, mesenteric traction syndrome; -MTS, non or moderate mesenteric traction syndrome.

C-Reactive Protein

On the third postoperative day, CRP was higher in patients who developed MTS than in those who did not (161 [107-248] vs 111 [77-154] mg/l, p=0.009). Accordingly, the increase in CRP was associated with the development of MTS (r=0.397, p=0.008) but not with the timing of TEA (r=−0.237, p=0.126).

Relation to MTS

In patients without MTS, SVR decreased by 15 min of surgery (p<0.001) although HR and MAP remained stable. Also, in patients who developed MTS, SVR decreased by 15 min of surgery at a stable MAP, while HR increased (Table 3). However, for those patients who manifested MTS, a stable MAP (>60 mmHg) required administration of more phenylephrine than to those without MTS (p=0.029) (Table 4).

Table 4

Fluid and Vasopressor Administration

	+MTS	Non or Moderate MTS	P-value
*Total fluid administration, mL	3101 ± 1180	2681 ± 686	0.142
**Total fluid loss, mL	1537 ± 1010	1102 ± 549	0.054
***Fluid balance, mL	1564 ± 537	1579 ± 596	0.093
Phenylephrine, mg/min	0.016 (0.003–0.018)	0.005 (0.000–0.013)	0.029
Phenylephrine, infusion min	190 (0–263)	155 (10–240)	0.808
Phenylephrine boli, mg	0.50 (0.30–0.60)	0.45 (0.20–0.88)	0.946
Ephedrine boli, mg	20 ± 16	18 ± 12	0.691
Number of boli administered after induction of anesthesia	2 (1–4)	2 (1–3)	0.254

Notes: Values are means ± SD. *Includes medicine, crystalloid, blood products, and human albumin. **Includes blood loss and urine output. ***Fluid administration – fluid output.

Abbreviations: EA and LA, early and late activated thoracic epidural anesthesia; +MTS, mesenteric traction syndrome.

Relation to TEA

In patients with EA TEA developing MTS, MAP and CO were significantly lower by 15 min of surgery than in patients with LA TEA developing MTS. These findings manifested although patients with EA TEA and MTS were administered more phenylephrine to maintain MAP >60 mmHg during surgery as compared with those with MTS and LA TEA (0.016 [0.016–0.019] vs 0.000 [0.000–0.005] mg/mL, p<0.001).

Discussion

This study found MTS in about 40% of patients going through open esophagectomy and associated with an increase in plasma 6-keto-PGF1α besides plasma IL6 during surgery and in C-reactive protein on the third post-operative day. A mesenteric traction syndrome is characterized by facial flushing combined with tachycardia and hypotension, but according to local practice, MAP is defended by the administration of ephedrine and/or phenylephrine on the choice of the anesthesiologist if MAP drops to below 60 mmHg. Yet, to maintain a MAP >60 mmHg required administration of about three times more phenylephrine in the patients who developed MTS, supporting that hypotension is a problem for patients with MTS.

During anesthesia several factors influence MAP. Besides the influence of MTS, general anesthesia influences MAP,27 and also epidural anesthesia reduces SVR due to sympathetic blockade.28–31 The present study evaluated whether MTS is influenced by TEA, and by comparing patients who were exposed to “early” vs “late” activation of TEA, the incidence of MTS was not statistically different. However, patients with EA TEA developing MTS presented lower blood pressure and CO by 15 min of surgery while requiring more vasopressor treatment to maintain MAP >60 mmHg as compared with LA TEA patients manifesting MTS. Thus, neuraxial anesthesia did not prevent but rather tended to aggravate flushing and the need to support blood pressure. Considering the relatively high incidence of MTS, timing of TEA seems relevant as prolonged hypotension (MAP <60 mmHg) during surgery increases the rate of both acute kidney,12 and myocardial injury,13 and excessive use of vasopressors is associated with increased leakage of gastrointestinal anastomoses.32 Furthermore, the development of MTS during surgery is associated with postoperative complications after esophagectomy,3 hepatectomy, and pancreaticoduodenectomy11 (Dindo-Clavien grade 3–5).33 Whether hemodynamic instability explains the association between the development of MTS and severe postoperative complications remains to be elucidated. Yet, to reduce perioperative hypotensive episodes, delayed activation of TEA could be considered.

Patients manifesting MTS had the full response by 15 min of surgery. For these patients, plasma 6-keto-PGF1α peaked with an approximately four-fold higher plasma concentration as compared with patients who did not develop MTS, mirroring the results from other studies.5,14 Yet, the timing of TEA did not influence peak plasma 6-keto-PGF1α in patients manifesting MTS indicating that the plasma 6-keto-PGF1α response to MTS was not related to the randomization. Thus, the primary concern for the anesthesiologist when MTS develops concomitantly with EA TEA seems to be hemodynamic instability. Similarly, in 100 patients randomized to remifentanil plus fentanyl vs fentanyl alone for intraoperative analgesia during major abdominal surgery, the incidence of MTS was three-fold higher with remifentanil.4 Remifentanil is a μ-opioid agonist and induces vasodilation possibly by suppressing the sympathetic influence on blood vessels as is also the case for TEA.34 Furthermore, the study reported similar peak plasma 6-keto-PGF1α during MTS with both remifentanil and fentanyl and suggest reservation of the use of remifentanil to the last part of the operation to allow for rapid extubation.

Plasma markers of systemic inflammation were high in patients developing MTS, ie higher plasma IL6 by the end of surgery and CRP on postoperative day three which suggests a link between MTS and systemic inflammation response to surgery. Plasma IL6 peaks by the end of surgery,15,35 and predicts postoperative complications after major abdominal surgery,15,36 while CRP reaches a maximum during the first postoperative days37,38 and predicts complications after esophagectomy39 and even death after major abdominal surgery.38 Yet, the PGI2 response to MTS is attenuated or abolished by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID),2,5,7 and perhaps also by corticosteroids26 which is administered often to reduce the inflammatory response to surgery. Accordingly, cardiovascular stability is achieved by NSAID during abdominal surgery,2 but at the expense of impaired coagulation and increased risk of anastomotic dehiscence.40,41 Moreover, after intentional mesenteric traction in NSAID treated patients, plasma endotoxin increases, and bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes manifests14 may be supporting that PGI2 protects the gut barrier integrity during surgery.42

Some study limitations should be considered. Facial flushing was determined visually but an objective determination of facial flushing by measuring skin blood flow is possible.26 In one study, severe facial flushing (MTS grade 2) could be distinguished from moderate- (MTS grade 1) and no flushing while no difference in skin blood flow was found when comparing moderate and no flushing. Thus, suggesting that MTS may only be identified with certainty in patients developing severe flushing, and this group of patients also seems to be most relevant to identify as severe complications manifest postoperatively, which is not the case for moderate- and non-MTS patients.3,11

Conclusion

The incidence of MTS is not prevented by TEA in patients undergoing open esophagectomy. On the contrary, the risk of hypotension is increased in patients exposed to TEA during surgery. Thus, the results suggest that it is advantageous to delay the activation of TEA to the end of the operation. Also, MTS is associated with increased IL-6 and C-reactive protein suggesting a link to a systemic inflammatory response, maybe explaining the aggravated post-operative outcome.