Risk factors and treatment of oxygenator high-pressure excursions during cardiopulmonary bypass

Introduction: A high-pressure excursion (HPE) is a sudden increase in oxygenator inlet pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The aims of this study were to identify factors associated with HPE, to describe a treatment protocol utilizing epoprostenol in severe cases, and to assess early outcome in HPE patients. Methods: Patients who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass at Sahlgrenska University Hospital 2016–2018 were included in a retrospective observational study. Pre- and post-operative data collected from electronic health records, local databases, and registries were compared between HPE and non-HPE patients. Factors associated with HPE were identified with logistic regression models. Results: In total, 2024 patients were analyzed, and 37 (1.8%) developed HPE. Large body surface area (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 1.43 per 0.1 m 2 ; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16–1.76, p < 0.001), higher hematocrit during CPB (aOR: 1.20 per 1%; (1.09–1.33), p < 0.001), acute surgery (aOR: 2.98; (1.26–6.62), p = 0.018), and previous stroke (aOR: 2.93; (1.03–7.20), p = 0.027) were independently associated with HPE. HPE was treated with hemodilution ( n = 29, 78.4%), and/or extra heparin ( n = 23, 62.2%), and/or epoprostenol ( n = 12, 32.4%). No oxygenator change-out was necessary. While there was no significant difference in 30-day mortality (2.7% vs 3.2%, p = 1.0), HPE was associated with a higher perioperative stroke rate (8.1% vs 1.8%, aOR 5.09 (1.17–15.57), p = 0.011). Conclusions: Large body surface area, high hematocrit during CPB, previous stroke and acute surgery were independently associated with HPE. A treatment protocol including epoprostenol appears to be a safe option. Perioperative stroke rate was increased in HPE patients.