The effect of high-dose selenium on mortality and postoperative organ dysfunction in post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock patients supported with mechanical circulatory support – A post-hoc analysis of the SUSTAIN CSX trial

Cardiac surgery, post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS), and temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) provoke substantial inflammation. We therefore investigated whether a selenium-based, anti-inflammatory strategy would benefit PCCS patients treated with tMCS in a post-hoc analysis of the sustain CSX trial. Post-hoc analysis of patients receiving tMCS for PCCS in the Sustain CSX trial, which investigated the effects of high-dose selenium on postoperative organ dysfunction in cardiac surgery patients. Primary outcome: duration of tMCS therapy. Secondary outcomes: postoperative organ dysfunction and 30-day mortality. Thirty-nine patients were treated with tMCS for PCCS. There was no difference in the median duration of tMCS between the selenium and the placebo group (3 days [IQR: 1–6] vs. 2 days [IQR: 1–7], p = 0.52). Median dialysis duration was longer in the selenium group (1.5 days [0–21.8] vs. 0 days [0–1.8], p = 0.048). There was no difference in 30-day mortality (53% vs. 41%, OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.32–6.47, p = 0.62). In this explorative study, a perioperative high-dose selenium-supplementation did not show beneficial effects on organ dysfunctions and mortality rates in patients with PCCS receiving tMCS.