title: Troponin-I for prediction of early postoperative course after pediatric cardiac surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It was the aim of the study to test the prognostic value of cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) concerning the early postoperative course after pediatric cardiac surgery.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Cardiac troponin-I is a very specific and sensitive marker of myocardial damage in adults and children. As perioperative myocardial damage may be a significant factor of postoperative cardiac performance, serial cTnI values were analyzed in children undergoing open heart surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-three children undergoing elective correction of congenital heart disease including atrial and ventricular surgical manipulation were studied. Cardiac troponin-I levels were measured serially and correlated with intra- and postoperative parameters (such as doses and length of inotropic support, renal and hepatic function, duration of intubation). Patients with prolonged postoperative recovery were analyzed with special attention to the cTnI levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cutoff point for the definition of a high and a low risk group of cTnI values was set at 25 microg/liter, 4 h after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and at 35 microg/liter considering the maximal value of cTnI in the first 24 h in the ICU. The results showed a highly significant correlation between the need for inotropic support, the severity of renal dysfunction and the duration of intubation in relation to the serum levels of cTnI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiac troponin-I serum levels after open heart surgery in children and infants 4 h after admission to the ICU allowed anticipation of the postoperative course and correlated with the incidence of significant postoperative complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, Berne, Switzerland. f.immer@bluewin.ch
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Immer
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stocker
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pfammatter
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bachmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Printzen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carrel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019210:Troponin I