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Thyroid hormone and cortisol concentrations after congenital heart surgery in infants younger than 3 months of age

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate associations between thyroid hormone and cortisol concentrations after cardiac surgery and postoperative intensive care course.

Methods

Prospective observational study of 52 infants <3 months of age following congenital heart surgery.

Results

Infants with low tri-iodothyronine (≤3.7 pmol/l) or high cortisol concentration on postoperative admission to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) were more likely to have a high inotrope requirement on postoperative day 2 (p = 0.003 and p = 0.0006, respectively) or need mechanical ventilation for longer than 96 h (p = 0.04 and p = 0.002, respectively). Total cortisol concentration < 200 nmol/l was found in 16 (31%) infants. There was no association between low cortisol and postoperative complications.

Conclusions

Infants <3 months of age with low tri-iodothyronine or high cortisol concentration on PICU admission have a more complicated PICU course. Low cortisol concentration is common in the early postoperative period, but is not associated with postoperative complications.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Green Lane Research and Education Fund for financial assistance with the laboratory testing, Peter Reed (Statistician, Starship Children’s Research Centre), the Cardiac Surgeons and Cardiologists, Starship Children’s Hospital and the Department of Endocrinology, Starship Children’s Hospital for their advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Starship Children’s Hospital, Park Road, Grafton, Private Bag 92024, Auckland, New Zealand

    Kevin R. Plumpton, Brian J. Anderson & John Beca

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  1. Kevin R. Plumpton
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  2. Brian J. Anderson
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Correspondence to Kevin R. Plumpton.

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Plumpton, K.R., Anderson, B.J. & Beca, J. Thyroid hormone and cortisol concentrations after congenital heart surgery in infants younger than 3 months of age. Intensive Care Med 36, 321–328 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-009-1648-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-009-1648-4

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