BackgroundPeak levels of troponin T (TnT) reliably predict morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery. However, the therapeutic window to manage CABG-related in-hospital complications may close before the peak is reached. We investigated whether early TnT levels correlate as well with complications after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.MethodsA 12 month consecutive series of patients undergoing elective isolated CABG procedures (mini-extra-corporeal circuit, Cardioplegic arrest) was analyzed. Logistic regression modeling was used to investigate whether TnT levels 6 to 8 hours after surgery were independently associated with in-hospital complications (either post-operative myocardial infarction, stroke, new-onset renal insufficiency, intensive care unit (ICU) readmission, prolonged ICU stay (>48 hours), prolonged need for vasopressors (>24 hours), resuscitation or death).ResultsA total of 290 patients, including 36 patients with complications, was analyzed. Early TnT levels (odds ratio (OR): 6.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.2-21.4, P=.001), logistic EuroSCORE (OR: 1.2, 95%CI: 1.0-1.3, P=.007) and the need for vasopressors during the first 6 postoperative hours (OR: 2.7, 95%CI: 1.0-7.1, P=.05) were independently associated with the risk of complications. With consideration of vasopressor use during the first 6 postoperative hours, the sum of specificity (0.958) and sensitivity (0.417) of TnT for subsequent complications was highest at a TnT cut-off value of 0.8 ng/mL.ConclusionEarly TnT levels may be useful to guide ICU management of CABG patients. They predict clinically relevant complications within a potential therapeutic window, particularly in patients requiring vasopressors during the first postoperative hours, although with only moderate sensitivity.

Die Patientin wurde mit einer therapieresistenten Hypertonie unter einer Trippeltherapie zugewiesen; auch ein Ausbau der medikamentösen Therapie zeigte keinen Erfolg. Laborchemisch zeigte sich ein primärer Hyperparathyreoidismus. Die weiteren Resultate der Diagnostik ergaben keine Hinweise auf eine andere Ursache der Hypertonie. In der Literatur sind Fälle mit therapieresistenter Hypertonie und primärem Hyperparathyreoidismus beschrieben. Die Patientin wurde total thyreoidektomiert, ein halbes Jahr später zeigt sich eine gut eingestellte Hypertonie unter einer Zweiertherapie, die Nervosität, Ängstlichkeit, Durstgefühle und die Muskelschmerzen waren nicht mehr vorhanden.