The usefulness of perioperative lactate blood levels in patients undergoing heart valve surgery

AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of lactate blood levels in the perioperative period in patients undergoing heart valve surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on a group of consecutive patients with significant valvular heart disease who underwent elective valve surgery. The primary endpoint was total mortality in a 30-day follow-up. Univariate analysis, followed by multivariate regression analysis, was performed. RESULTS: The study included 801 patients. The primary end point occurred in 36 patients. At multivariate analysis lactate blood level measured one day after surgery and pH measured one day after surgery remained independent predictors of the primary end-point. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated postoperative lactate blood level was associated with a higher risk of postoperative death.