title: Utility of B-type natriuretic peptide in predicting postoperative complications and outcomes in patients undergoing heart surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to assess whether preoperative and postoperative B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels could be used as predictors of postoperative complications and outcomes in patients after open-heart surgery.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  A variety of multifactor indexes have been proposed for preoperative risk assessment of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, but they have shown limited ability and utility in accurately predicting postoperative complications, hospital stay, and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects consisted of 98 male patients (63 +/- 9.1 years) undergoing open-heart surgery at the San Diego Veterans Administration Health System during a 19-month period. B-type natriuretic peptide levels were analyzed, and postoperative data recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a higher preoperative BNP level in patients requiring the use of intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs) (mean BNP = 387 +/- 112 pg/ml vs. 181 +/- 25 pg/ml), in patients who died within one year (357 +/- 93 pg/ml vs. 184 +/- 26 pg/ml), and in patients with postoperative hospital stays of 10 days or more (307 +/- 68 pg/ml vs. 179 +/- 27 pg/ml). Receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated preoperative BNP levels as predictors of postoperative IABP use, hospital stay <or=10 days, and mortality <1 year with areas under the curve of 0.70, 0.64, and 0.70, respectively. A BNP cut-off value above 385 pg/ml demonstrated high specificity (=90% in each) and accuracy (=86%, 79%, 85%, respectively) for predicting each of these end points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative BNP levels >385 pg/ml predict the postoperative complications and one-year mortality after heart surgery. Postoperatively, elevated peak BNP levels and elevated change to peak BNP levels were associated with prolonged hospital stay and mortality within one year.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hutfless
authors.forename: Radmila
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kazanegra
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madani
authors.forename: Meenakshi Awasthi
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bhalla
authors.forename: Alisi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tulua-Tata
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clopton
authors.forename: Cherimarie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Alan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Maisel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain