Impact of intraoperative cytokine adsorption on outcome of patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation—an observational study

Aim The aim of this study was to assess the influence of intraoperative cytokine adsorption on the perioperative vasoplegia, inflammatory response and outcome during orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). Methods Eighty‐four OHT patients were separated into the cytokine adsorption (CA)‐treated group or controls. Vasopressor demand, inflammatory response described by procalcitonin and C‐reactive protein, and postoperative outcome were assessed performing propensity score matching. Results In the 16 matched pairs, the median noradrenaline requirement was significantly less in the CA‐treated patients than in the controls on the first and second postoperative days (0.14 vs 0.3 μg*kg−1*min−1, P = .039 and 0.06 vs 0.32 μg*kg−1*min−1, P = .047). The inflammatory responses were similar in the two groups. There was a trend toward shorter length of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit (ICU) stay in the CA‐treated group compared to the controls. No difference in adverse events was observed between the two groups. However, the frequency of renal replacement therapy was significantly less in the CA‐treated patients than in the controls (P = .031). Conclusions Intraoperative CA treatment was associated with reduced vasopressor demand and less frequent renal replacement therapy with a favorable tendency in length of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay. CA treatment was not linked to higher rates of adverse events.