ObjectiveA retrospective cohort study was preformed aiming to verify the presence of
transient dysfunction of gas exchange in the postoperative period of cardiac
surgery and determine if this disorder is linked to cardiorespiratory
events.MethodsWe included 942 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery and cardiac
procedures who were referred to the Intensive Care Unit between June 2007
and November 2011.ResultsFifteen patients had acute respiratory distress syndrome (2%), 199 (27.75%)
had mild transient dysfunction of gas exchange, 402 (56.1%) had moderate
transient dysfunction of gas exchange, and 39 (5.4%) had severe transient
dysfunction of gas exchange. Hypertension and cardiogenic shock were
associated with the emergence of moderate transient dysfunction of gas
exchange postoperatively (P=0.02 and
P=0.019, respectively) and were risk factors for this
dysfunction (P=0.0023 and P=0.0017,
respectively). Diabetes mellitus was also a risk factor for transient
dysfunction of gas exchange (P=0.03). Pneumonia was present
in 8.9% of cases and correlated with the presence of moderate transient
dysfunction of gas exchange (P=0.001). Severe transient
dysfunction of gas exchange was associated with patients who had renal
replacement therapy (P=0.0005), hemotherapy
(P=0.0001), enteral nutrition
(P=0.0012), or cardiac arrhythmia
(P=0.0451).ConclusionPreoperative hypertension and cardiogenic shock were associated with the
occurrence of postoperative transient dysfunction of gas exchange. The
preoperative risk factors included hypertension, cardiogenic shock, and
diabetes. Postoperatively, pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia, renal
replacement therapy, hemotherapy, and cardiac arrhythmia were associated
with the appearance of some degree of transient dysfunction of gas exchange,
which was a risk factor for reintubation, pneumonia, ventilator-associated
pneumonia, and renal replacement therapy in the postoperative period of
cardiac surgery and cardiac procedures.