title: N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide levels in pediatric patients with congestive heart failure undergoing cardiac surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to measure circulating N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide levels in pediatric patients undergoing surgical repair of congenital heart lesions with left ventricular volume overload and to determine whether presurgical and immediate postoperative N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide levels could predict patient outcomes after surgical intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight children aged 1 to 36 months undergoing surgical repair of cardiac lesions with left ventricular volume overload were studied. Plasma N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide levels were measured preoperatively and at 2, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgical intervention and were assessed for their predictive value of postoperative outcomes. Plasma N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide levels were also measured in 34 similarly aged healthy children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient preoperative N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide levels were significantly higher than those of healthy control subjects (3085 +/- 4046 vs 105 +/- 78 pg/mL). Preoperative N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide levels correlated with the complexity of surgical repair, as measured by cardiopulmonary bypass time (r = 0.529, P < .001), and with postoperative measures, including fractional inhaled oxygen requirements registered at 12 hours (r = 0.443, P = .005) and duration of mechanical ventilation (r = 0.445, P = .005). Plasma N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide levels increased 5-fold within 12 hours after cardiopulmonary bypass (14,685 +/- 14,317 pg/mL). Multivariable regression analysis showed that the preoperative N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide level was a significant predictor of duration of intensive care unit stay (P = .02) and that the peak postoperative N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide level was a significant predictor of the intensity of overall medical management, as assessed by using the therapeutic intervention scoring system (P = .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide levels measured preoperatively and postoperatively can be a prognostic indicator in the management of the pediatric patient after surgical intervention for congenital heart repair.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Schneider Children's Hospital, New Hyde Park, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Rowan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Clark
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: Jared
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: LaCorte
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parnell
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sison
authors.forename: Devyani
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Kaie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ojamaa
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain