GLUCOSE-METABOLISM IN CHILDREN SUBMITTED TO CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS - WEIGHT AND HYPOTHERMIA CORRELATION

Introduction. A prospective study has been carried out in 33 children with congenital heart disease, aged 5 days to 16 years, operated on wi th the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), in order to evaluate intra and postoperative glycemia in relation to children's weight and intra -CPB perfusion temperature. Material and methods. Plasmatic levels of glucose, lactate, insulin, C-peptide, growth hormone (GH) and cortisol were measured at five different times, from pre-CPB up to 18 hours po st-CPB. Thirteen children weighing less than 10 kilograms (group I) we re compared to 20 children weighing more than 10 kilograms (group II), and 15 children operated on with perfusion temperature below 27 degre es C (group A) were compared to 18 with perfusion temperature above 27 degrees C. Results. All the cases showed intraoperative hyperglycemia . In relation to weight, evolution of glycemia was similar in both gro ups but anaerobic glycolysis was significantly higher in group I. In r elation to temperature, glycemia, lactic acidemia intra-and post-CPB a nd serum C-peptide post-CPB were significantly higher in group A. Intr aoperative insulin was decreased and GH serum levels were also higher in group I and A, but fell drastically post-CPB in all groups. Conclus ions. Perioperative control of glycemia is important in children opera ted on with the aid of CPB. Control of lactic acidemia is also expedie nt. Carbohydrates metabolism and its hormonal regulation are more dist urbed in infants and in children operated on with low perfusion temper ature.