Postoperative pattern of various hormonal and metabolic variables. A pilotstudy in patients without complications following cardiac surgery

The use of single predictors for threatening postoperative complications ar e widely accepted. However, a typical pattern of multiple parameters could be more helpful than a single predictor. To study this hypothesis, various variables of normal postoperative changes in patients without postoperative complications were investigated. Secondly, this pattern needs to be compar ed in the future with those findings in patients with postoperative complic ations. Blood parameters of 13 patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery without p ostoperative complications for 24 hours were evaluated. Samples were obtain ed on the afternoon before the operation and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours after the end of surgery. At one hour postoperation increased levels of the following parameters were noted: growth hormone (p < 0.0001), glucose (p < 0.0001), insulin (p < 0.0 01), c-peptide (p < 0.001), lactate (p < 0.002), glutamate (p < 0.0001), as partate (p < 0.001) and total amino acids (p < 0.05), although the concentr ation of some amino acids decreased. Three hours postoperatively free fatty acids (p < 0.05) were increased. Total-T3 concentrations were reduced post operatively. Other parameters were not altered. Most of the parameters retu rned to normal values during the period of observation.