Doppler-derived left ventricular rate of pressure rise and inotropic requirements during mitral valve surgery

Background: The estimation of left ventricular (LV) contractility is difficult in the presence of significant mitral regurgitation (MR). Prediction of LV performance after MR repair is even more problematic. The intraoperative Doppler-derived LV rate of pressure rise (LV ΔP/ Δt) analyzed before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was presumed to be a useful predictive parameter for LV performance. Therefore, its relation to perioperative inotropic requirements (PIR) necessary for separation from CPB after surgical MR repair was investigated. Methods: Twenty-eight patients scheduled for surgical MR repair fulfilled the selection criteria. Pre-CPB LV ΔP/ Δt, pre-CPB echocardiographic LV fractional area change (LV FAC), and pre-CPB thermodilution-derived cardiac index (CI) were recorded. After MR repair, separation from CPB was performed with regard to standardized guidelines. PIR during the first 60 minutes following separation were recorded. Results: Pre-CPB LV ΔP/ Δt could be assessed in 22 patients. Pre-CPB LV ΔP/ Δt was 882 ± 450 mmHg/sec, pre-CPB LV FAC was 49% ± 9%, and pre-CPB CI was 2.0 ± 0.2 L/kg/min. Pre-CPB LV ΔP/ Δt was significantly correlated with pre-CPB LV FAC ( r = 0.56), and with pre-CPB CI ( r = 0.72). Inotropic support was necessary in 16 patients (73%), and was best predicted by the pre-CPB LV ΔP/ Δt, by means of logistic regression ( p = 0.026). Conclusions: Doppler-derived LV ΔP/ Δt was assessable in most patients with severe chronic MR, and was the best intraoperative predictive parameter of post-CPB inotropic requirements after surgical MR repair.