Intra-Mucosal Acidosis as a Predictor of Cardiac Outcome Following Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery

AbstractObjectiveTo assess if sigmoid ischaemia is a prognostic indicator of early and late post-operative cardiac morbidity and mortality.Materials and methodsPatients undergoing elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (AAAR) were included in the study. Demographic details and risk factors for heart disease were recorded. Sigmoid pHi was measured at the time of surgery using a silicone tonometer and perioperative morbidity and mortality were recorded in all patients. Seven years following surgery the patients and their general practitioners were contacted to determine the patient's health.ResultsThirty-eight patients were included in the study. Within the follow-up period, 22 (58%) had died. Eight patients died of cardiac failure or myocardial infarction. The pHi in patients with cardiac related deaths [6.99 (6.84–7.10)] was significantly lower than those with non-cardiac related deaths [7.11 (7.04–7.21), p<0.05]. Similarly, patients who suffered acute cardiac events (within 30 days following AAA repair) had lower pHi [7.01 (6.88–7.12)] compared to those who did not [7.09 (6.90–7.19), p