This study is a subanalysis of a large multicenter prospective, randomised, trial showing that goal-directed colloid administration did not decrease a composite of major postoperative complications as compared to goal-directed crystalloid administration.24 However, significantly fewer patients in the colloid group developed cardiac complications as compared to the crystalloid group.24 Nevertheless, the actual numbers (one in the colloid group versus eight in the crystalloid group) were too small to draw any further conclusions. Similarly, in our subanalysis we did not find a statistically significant difference in NT-proBNP and troponin T concentrations between goal-directed colloid versus crystalloid fluid regimens.
Correspondingly recent studies have shown that serum BNP determination is a tool to indirectly monitor fluid status in surgical patients.7 8 Blood volume expansion increases myocardial wall stress and thus contributes to increased BNP values in healthy volunteers.29 We used a baseline crystalloid solution and additionally administered Doppler-guided colloid- or crystalloid fluid boluses to optimize cardiac performance. This provided individualized fluid and/or vasopressor therapy to maintain physiologically similar quantities of each fluid type throughout surgery26 30, which minimized the risk of a relevant intraoperative volume overload. Except for stroke volume, which was slightly higher in the colloid group, all other haemodynamic parameters including cardiac index and arterial blood pressure were comparable between both groups.
NT-proBNP values measured on the first two days after surgery were significantly higher compared to preoperative baseline values. In contrast, NT-proBNP concentrations within two hours after surgery were nearly unchanged as compared to preoperative baseline values. As previously shown7 31, we primarily assumed that the increase of postoperative NT-proBNP concentration was an effect of the intraoperative administered fluid volume. However, we found no correlation in our study between the intraoperative administered fluid volume and the postoperative increase of NT-proBNP within the first two days. It seems likely, that postoperative NT-proBNP concentration might be affected by several perioperative factors such as surgical stress, hemodynamic perturbations, myocardial strain, or inflammation rather than by fluid management alone. 32 33
Postoperative NT-proBNP values between 0 – 299 ng/L, 300 – 899 ng/L and greater than 900 ng/L are associated with a composite of 30-day mortality or nonfatal MI at a rate of 1.8%, 8.7%, and 27%, respectively.10 10 patients in the colloid group and 14 patients in the crystalloid group had postoperative NT-proBNP levels between 300 - 900 ng/L. In two patients in the colloid group and four patients in the crystalloid group NT-proBNP values exceeded 900 ng/L. The median increase of NT-proBNP from baseline to postoperative maximum values was 150 ng/L in the colloid and 390 ng/L in the crystalloid group. This was comparable to a previous analysis which showed a median increase of 323 ng/L NT-proBNP after noncardiac surgery.10
The association between perioperative hypotension and postoperative myocardial injury, kidney function and death has been shown in several studies.34 Even short episodes of intraoperative hypotension are associated with myocardial injury and kidney failure.35 36 An intraoperative mean arterial blood pressure threshold of greater than 65 mmHg is associated with a reduced incidence of MINS.23 37 Moreover, intraoperative individualized blood pressure control reduces postoperative organ dysfunction.38 A recent trial demonstrated that perioperative hypotensive episodes, defined as systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg for more than 10 minutes, are major contributors to cardiovascular events, even in patients without coronary artery disease.39 It seems likely, that intra-operative goal-directed18 fluid management as well as individualized blood pressure control to avoid clinical important hypotension are effective methods to reduce postoperative cardiovascular complications.
We tightly controlled intraoperative blood pressure, which resulted in a time-weighted average mean arterial pressure of near 80 mmHg in both groups. However, during the first two postoperative days 5 (19%) patients in the colloid and 7 (24%) patients in the crystalloid group developed MINS. This is in accordance with the previous published rate of MINS of approximately 18% measured with high-sensitive troponin immunoassay.12 It has been recently shown that ward hypotension after surgery is common and is an independent predictor for myocardial infarction and death.9 40 According to our study protocol, we did not record blood pressure during the postoperative study period. Thus, we are unable to make any statement concerning hypotensive episodes on the ward, which might have contributed to our results.
We observed high rates of MINS, which emphasizes that even patients with a low estimated cardiac risk41 having moderate- to high-risk surgery are at risk to develop MINS in the postoperative period. Implementation of perioperative fluid guidelines and optimization of perioperative blood pressure control will be crucial to reduce cardiovascular complications after moderate to high-risk noncardiac surgery. This includes the implementation of standardized perioperative BNP and troponin T measurements as well as continuous blood pressure monitoring on the ward.
Only recently the clinical importance of perioperative monitoring of cardiac biomarkers in patients undergoing noncardiac was proven, even in patients without any pre-existing cardiac morbidity.1 Accordingly, we started our measurement late during the course of our main trial, which was stopped earlier per protocol after the futility boundary was crossed.
In summary, postoperative cardiac biomarkers were not significantly affected by goal-directed colloid administration. There was a markedly increase of postoperative maximum NT-proBNP concentration and a high incidence of MINS in both groups. The association between postoperative maximum NT-proBNP concentrations and outcome in patients with low cardiac risk is unclear and still needs further research.