title: Preventing enterocyte damage by maintenance of mean arterial pressure during major nonabdominal surgery in children.
abstract: Loss of the gut barrier, which is related to hypotension and gastrointestinal hypoperfusion during surgery, has been implicated as a critical event in postoperative complications development. This study aims at preventing gut barrier loss by maintenance of mean arterial pressure (MAP) in patients undergoing major nonabdominal surgery. In 20 previously included children undergoing spinal fusion surgery, the critical MAP value, which should be maintained to prevent enterocyte damage, was determined. In the following 12 children, MAP was kept above the critical value during surgery. Gut mucosal barrier loss was assessed by plasma intestinal fatty acid-binding proteins levels, a marker for enterocyte damage. Gastrointestinal perfusion was measured by gastric tonometry. First, we determined that the MAP should be maintained greater than 60 mmHg to prevent enterocyte damage. Next, maintenance of the MAP above this critical value during surgery resulted in adequate intestinal perfusion and preservation of enterocyte integrity, represented by intestinal fatty acid-binding protein levels within the reference range. This study shows that maintenance of the MAP at greater than 60 mmHg is associated with adequate intestinal perfusion and reduced enterocyte loss in children undergoing major nonabdominal surgery. These data stress the importance and benefits of good circulatory management during major surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre & Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute (NUTRIM), Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Geertje
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thuijls
authors.forename: Joep P M
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Derikx
authors.forename: Marjolein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Kruijf
authors.forename: Dick A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: van Waardenburg
authors.forename: Annemarie A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: van Bijnen
authors.forename: Ton
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ambergen
authors.forename: Lodewijk W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: van Rhijn
authors.forename: Henriette M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Willigers
authors.forename: Wim A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Buurman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008297:Male; D013123:Spinal Fusion
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins