Contemporary Trends and Risk Factors of Hemodynamic and Myocardial Mechanics Derived by the Pressure Recording Analytical Method After Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Objective: Adverse factors of postoperative hemodynamic and myocardial performance remain largely unexplored in children with congenital heart disease following cardiopulmonary bypass due to technical limitations. Pressure recording analytical method (PRAM) is a continuous hemodynamic and myocardial performance monitoring technique based on beat-to-beat arterial pressure waveform. Using PRAM, we examined the temporal trends and adverse factors, in clinical management, of these performances. Methods: We monitored blood pressure, cardiac index, cardiac cycle efficiency (CCE), dP/dT(max), and systematic vascular resistance index in 91 children (aged 186 +/- 256 days) during their first 48 h after cardiopulmonary bypass. Above parameters, inotropic and vasoactive drug dosages, and serum lactate were recorded 3-hourly. NT-proBNP was measured daily. Results: CCE and dP/dT(max) gradually increased (Ps < 0.0001), while systematic vascular resistance index, diastolic blood pressure and inotrope dosages decreased (Ps < 0.0001) over time. Cardiac index, systolic blood pressure, and heart rate did not change significantly (Ps >= 0.231). Patients undergoing deep hypothermic circulatory arrest had significantly higher heart rate and lower CCE (Ps <= 0.006) over time. Multivariate analyses indicated that epinephrine dose significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure, cardiac index, CCE, and dP/dT(max) after polynomial transformation, with the peak ranging from 0.075 to 0.097. Conclusions: Systemic hemodynamic and myocardial performance gradually improved in the first 48 h after cardiopulmonary bypass without the "classic " nadir at 9-12 h. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and higher epinephrine doses were adversely associated with these performances. CCE, rather than cardiac index or other common-used parameters, was the most sensitive and consistent indicator.