Perioperative blood lactate levels, pyruvate levels, and lactate-pyruvate ratio in children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass for congenital heart disease.

Abstract

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) affects almost every body system by hypoperfusion either subclinically or clinically and produces a systemic inflammatory response owing to contact of blood with mechanical surfaces. There has been no documentation regarding pyruvate in predicting postoperative mortality and morbidity. Aim: This study was carried out to evaluate lactate levels, pyruvate levels, and lactatepyruvate ratio in pediatric patients undergoing CPB (for correction of congenital cardiac anomaly) and their correlation to perioperative outcomes. Method: 50 consecutive patients (less than 14 years of age) of various congenital heart diseases undergoing CPB were studied. Patients were classified into three categories according to their surgical complexity. Arterial blood samples were collected at different stages of CPB to estimate blood lactate and pyruvate levels by using documented spectrophotometric method.