N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide as a Predictor of Adverse Outcomes After Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Prospective Study.

Background: The strength of association between preoperative natriuretic peptide levels and adverse outcomes after cardiac surgery recently has been studied in different research, but results still are diversely variable.

Methods: Sixty-five consecutive patients undergoing elective off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting prospectively were recruited. Preoperative levels of NTproBNP were measured in venous blood samples collected before induction of anesthesia.

Results: The average age was 57.62 ± 7.21. Of the patients, 86.15% were male. Euro-scoreII averaged 1.76 ± 0.34. The mean preoperative NTproBNP levels were 312.41 ± 329.93 pg/mL. Only two patients died (3%). Three patients required prolonged mechanical ventilation (4.6%). Four patients (6%) suffered from new onset postoperative AF. Five patients (7.6%) had low cardiac output, of which three needed IABP, and four patients (6%) had postoperative myocardial infarction. The mean ICU stay was 3.37 ± 0.84 days, and the mean hospital stay was 6.38 ± 1.3 days. There were no significant differences in preoperative NTproBNP levels in patients who had or didn't have any of the postoperative complications or in-hospital mortality (P > .05).

Conclusion: Our study showed no significant correlation between preoperative NTproBNP levels and postoperative low cardiac output, atrial fibrillation, postoperative myocardial infarction, length of ICU stay, prolonged mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay as well as in-hospital mortality following elective off-pump CABG. Therefore, more prospective specific studies are needed to delineate the role of preoperative natriuretic peptides as significant predictors of poor outcomes after CABG surgery.