Postoperative vasoactive inotropic score is predictive of outcomes in pediatric heart transplantation

Vasoactive inotrope score (VIS) is scarcely studied in pediatric orthotopic heart transplantation (pOHT). We conducted a retrospective review of pOHT (<21 years) recipients. Max VIS and mean VIS were calculated at 0-24 and 24-48 hours post-pOHT. Patients were divided into groups based on ISHLT guidelines: high (>10) and low (≤10). In our group (n = 104), patients with high max and mean VIS groups at 0-24 and 24-48 hours had longer bypass times (high: >130 minutes; low: <108 minutes; P < .05) and high max and mean VIS groups at 0-24 hours had longer ischemic times (high: >215 minutes; low: <192 minutes; P < .05). Patients with high max and mean VIS at 0-24 and 24-48 hours had longer hospital stay, ventilation, inotrope duration, more cardiac events, and acute kidney injury postoperatively (P < .05). High max VIS at 24-48 hours and high mean VIS at 24-48 hours had higher 3-year mortality (P = .04; P = .02). Multivariate analysis confirmed the association of VIS with short-term outcomes. However, VIS was not identified as an independent predictor of mortality. The ROC curve exhibits 10 as the ideal cutoff with area under the curve >0.8 for primary graft dysfunction (PGD).

The Total Inotrope Exposure Score: an extension of the Vasoactive Inotrope Score as a predictor of adverse outcomes after paediatric cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to explore and compare the association between a new vasoactive score - the Total Inotrope Exposure Score - and outcome and the established Vasoactive Inotrope Score in children undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass DESIGN: The present study was a single-centre, retrospective study.

SETTING

The study was carried out at a 21-bed cardiovascular ICU in a Tertiary Children's Hospital between September, 2010 and May, 2011 METHODS: The Total Inotrope Exposure Score is a new vasoactive score that brings together cumulative vasoactive drug exposure and incorporates dose adjustments over time. The performance of these scores - average, maximum Vasoactive Inotrope Score at 24 and 48 hours, and Total Inotrope Exposure Score - to predict primary clinical outcomes - either death, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation before hospital discharge - and secondary outcomes - length of invasive mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and hospital stay - was calculated. Main results The study cohort included 167 children under 18 years of age, with 37 (22.2%) neonates and 65 (41.3%) infants aged between 1 month and 1 year. The Total Inotrope Exposure Score best predicted the primary outcome (six of 167 cases) with an unadjusted odds ratio for a poor outcome of 42 (4.8, 369.6). Although the area under curve was higher than other scores, this difference did not reach statistical significance. The Total Inotrope Exposure Score best predicted prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and hospital stay as compared with the other scores.

CONCLUSION

The Total Inotrope Exposure Score appears to have a good association with poor postoperative outcomes and warrants prospective validation across larger numbers of patients across institutions.