This retrospective study analyzed the profile and predictors of lactic acidosis (LA) in 32 pediatric patients (ages 0-18) following cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). LA was defined as arterial lactate > 2 mmol/L with pH < 7.35 upon ICU admission. Data included demographic, preoperative (EF, TAPSE, creatinine), and intraoperative parameters (CPB duration, cross-clamp time, vasoactive amines). Statistical analysis sought correlations between these factors and LA occurrence. The incidence of LA was 15.6% (5/32). The cohort (mean age 9.8 years, 65.6% male) showed preserved preoperative cardiac function. Surgery was equally split between valvular and congenital heart disease. Mean CPB duration was 110 minutes, with hypothermia used in 81.3% of cases and sympathomimetics in 78.1%. Analysis revealed no significant association between LA and demographic factors, preoperative parameters, or intraoperative data (type of surgery, CPB/clamp duration, amines). However, a non-significant trend showed 4 out of 5 LA cases occurred after congenital heart surgery. Clinically, LA was significantly correlated with a longer ICU stay (mean 3.75 vs. 2.77 days). No significant link was found with overall mortality (6.3%). In this pediatric series, postoperative lactic acidosis, while relatively infrequent, is associated with prolonged ICU stays. The absence of clear preoperative or intraoperative risk factors highlights the multifactorial complexity of this metabolic complication, necessitating vigilant postoperative monitoring.
| Published in | International Journal of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (Volume 12, Issue 2) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ijcts.20261202.12 |
| Page(s) | 28-32 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Lactic Acidosis, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Extracorporeal Circulation
Sympathomimetic | Effective | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
NAD | 25 | 78.1 |
Milrinone | 16 | 50.0 |
Adrenaline | 3 | 9.4 |
Dobutamine | 2 | 6.3 |
Sympathomimetic Association | Effective | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
NAD alone | 8 | 32.0 |
NAD+Milrinone | 12 | 48.0 |
NAD+Dobutamine | 1 | 4.0 |
NAD+Dobutamine+Milrinone | 1 | 4.0 |
NAD+Adrenaline+Milrinone | 3 | 12.0 |
No sympathomimetics | 7 | 21.9 |
Total | 39 | 100 |
AL | Lactic Acidosis |
CEC | Cardiopulmonary Cardiovascular Surgery |
CHU | University Hospital Center |
GFR | Glomerular Filtration Rate |
EF | Ejection Fraction |
LVEF | Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction |
Hb | Hemoglobin |
HCO3- | Bicarbonates |
NAD | Norepinephrine |
pH | Potential of Hydrogen |
SvO2 | Venous Oxygen Saturation |
TAPSE | Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion |
| [1] | Hatherill M, Salie S, Waggie Z, Lawrenson J, Hewitson J, Reynolds L et al. Hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis following open cardiac surgery. Arch Dis Child December 2005; 90(12): 1288-92. |
| [2] | Nasr VG, Staffa SJ, Boyle S, Regan W, Brown M, Smith-Parrish M, et al. Predictors of increased lactate in neonatal cardiac surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2021 Jan; 35(1): 148-153. |
| [3] | Bowers PJ, Daley M, Shrimpton NYR, et al. Hyperlactataemia Following Crystalloid Cardiopulmonary Bypass Prime in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Children (Basel). 2024; 11(11): 1379. |
| [4] | Tüzün B, Ergün S, Özalp Ş, Önalan MA, Tan Recep BZ, Recep E, et al. Effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on late-onset hyperlactatemia after pediatric cardiac surgery. Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2025; 33(1): 27-35. |
| [5] | Sanchez-Felix E, Olivera-Mar A, Santaularia-Tomas M, Johnson-Herrera J, Ortiz-Vera L, Perez-Navarrete A, et al. Prognostic value of serial lactate measurement in pediatric cardiac surgery patients with congenital heart disease in southeastern Mexico. Med. Sci. 2026; 14(1): 35. |
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| [7] | Cheung PY, Chui N, Joffe AR, Rebeyka IM, Robertson CM. Postoperative lactate concentrations predict the outcome of infants aged 6 weeks or less after intracardiac surgery: a cohort follow-up to 18 months. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005 Sep; 130(3): 837-43. |
| [8] | Rossi AF, Khan DM, Hannan R, Bolivar J, Zaidenweber M, Burke R. Goal-directed medical therapy and point-of-care testing improve outcomes after congenital heart surgery. Intensive Care Med. 2005 Jan; 31(1): 98-104. |
| [9] | Ranucci M, De Toffol B, Isgrò G, Romitti F, Conti D, Vicentini M. Hyperlactatemia during cardiopulmonary bypass: determinants and impact on postoperative outcome. Crit Care. 2006; 10(6): R167. |
| [10] | Charpie JR, Dekeon MK, Goldberg CS, Mosca RS, Bove EL, Kulik TJ. Serial blood lactate measurements predict early outcome after neonatal repair or palliation for complex congenital heart disease. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2000 Jul; 120(1): 73-80. |
| [11] | Hatherill M, Sajjanhar T, Tibby SM, Champion MP, Anderson D, Marsh MJ, et al. Serum lactate as a predictor of mortality after pediatric cardiac surgery. Arch Dis Child. 1997 Sep; 77(3): 235-8. |
| [12] | Munoz R, Laussen PC, Palacio G, Zienko L, Piercey G, Wessel DL. Changes in whole blood lactate levels during cardiopulmonary bypass for surgery for congenital cardiac disease: an early indicator of morbidity and mortality. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2000 Jan; 119(1): 155-62. |
APA Style
Ba, E. B., Diagne, P. A., Gaye, I., Ndiaye, P. I., Sene, M. V., et al. (2026). Profile and Predictive Factors of Postoperative Lactic Acidosis in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Under Extracorporeal Circulation. International Journal of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, 12(2), 28-32. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcts.20261202.12
ACS Style
Ba, E. B.; Diagne, P. A.; Gaye, I.; Ndiaye, P. I.; Sene, M. V., et al. Profile and Predictive Factors of Postoperative Lactic Acidosis in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Under Extracorporeal Circulation. Int. J. Cardiovasc. Thorac. Surg. 2026, 12(2), 28-32. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcts.20261202.12
AMA Style
Ba EB, Diagne PA, Gaye I, Ndiaye PI, Sene MV, et al. Profile and Predictive Factors of Postoperative Lactic Acidosis in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Under Extracorporeal Circulation. Int J Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2026;12(2):28-32. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcts.20261202.12
@article{10.11648/j.ijcts.20261202.12,
author = {Elhadji Boubacar Ba and Papa Amath Diagne and Ibrahima Gaye and Papa Ibrahima Ndiaye and Marie Victoire Sene and Abdoulaye Gueye and Ulimata Diop and El Hadji Malick Diao and Etienne Birame Sene and Oumar Kane},
title = {Profile and Predictive Factors of Postoperative Lactic Acidosis in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Under Extracorporeal Circulation},
journal = {International Journal of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery},
volume = {12},
number = {2},
pages = {28-32},
doi = {10.11648/j.ijcts.20261202.12},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcts.20261202.12},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijcts.20261202.12},
abstract = {This retrospective study analyzed the profile and predictors of lactic acidosis (LA) in 32 pediatric patients (ages 0-18) following cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). LA was defined as arterial lactate > 2 mmol/L with pH < 7.35 upon ICU admission. Data included demographic, preoperative (EF, TAPSE, creatinine), and intraoperative parameters (CPB duration, cross-clamp time, vasoactive amines). Statistical analysis sought correlations between these factors and LA occurrence. The incidence of LA was 15.6% (5/32). The cohort (mean age 9.8 years, 65.6% male) showed preserved preoperative cardiac function. Surgery was equally split between valvular and congenital heart disease. Mean CPB duration was 110 minutes, with hypothermia used in 81.3% of cases and sympathomimetics in 78.1%. Analysis revealed no significant association between LA and demographic factors, preoperative parameters, or intraoperative data (type of surgery, CPB/clamp duration, amines). However, a non-significant trend showed 4 out of 5 LA cases occurred after congenital heart surgery. Clinically, LA was significantly correlated with a longer ICU stay (mean 3.75 vs. 2.77 days). No significant link was found with overall mortality (6.3%). In this pediatric series, postoperative lactic acidosis, while relatively infrequent, is associated with prolonged ICU stays. The absence of clear preoperative or intraoperative risk factors highlights the multifactorial complexity of this metabolic complication, necessitating vigilant postoperative monitoring.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Profile and Predictive Factors of Postoperative Lactic Acidosis in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Under Extracorporeal Circulation AU - Elhadji Boubacar Ba AU - Papa Amath Diagne AU - Ibrahima Gaye AU - Papa Ibrahima Ndiaye AU - Marie Victoire Sene AU - Abdoulaye Gueye AU - Ulimata Diop AU - El Hadji Malick Diao AU - Etienne Birame Sene AU - Oumar Kane Y1 - 2026/02/27 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcts.20261202.12 DO - 10.11648/j.ijcts.20261202.12 T2 - International Journal of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery JF - International Journal of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery JO - International Journal of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery SP - 28 EP - 32 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2575-4882 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcts.20261202.12 AB - This retrospective study analyzed the profile and predictors of lactic acidosis (LA) in 32 pediatric patients (ages 0-18) following cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). LA was defined as arterial lactate > 2 mmol/L with pH < 7.35 upon ICU admission. Data included demographic, preoperative (EF, TAPSE, creatinine), and intraoperative parameters (CPB duration, cross-clamp time, vasoactive amines). Statistical analysis sought correlations between these factors and LA occurrence. The incidence of LA was 15.6% (5/32). The cohort (mean age 9.8 years, 65.6% male) showed preserved preoperative cardiac function. Surgery was equally split between valvular and congenital heart disease. Mean CPB duration was 110 minutes, with hypothermia used in 81.3% of cases and sympathomimetics in 78.1%. Analysis revealed no significant association between LA and demographic factors, preoperative parameters, or intraoperative data (type of surgery, CPB/clamp duration, amines). However, a non-significant trend showed 4 out of 5 LA cases occurred after congenital heart surgery. Clinically, LA was significantly correlated with a longer ICU stay (mean 3.75 vs. 2.77 days). No significant link was found with overall mortality (6.3%). In this pediatric series, postoperative lactic acidosis, while relatively infrequent, is associated with prolonged ICU stays. The absence of clear preoperative or intraoperative risk factors highlights the multifactorial complexity of this metabolic complication, necessitating vigilant postoperative monitoring. VL - 12 IS - 2 ER -