Journal of neurosurgical anesthesiology
-
J Neurosurg Anesthesiol · Oct 2017
Elevated Intraoperative Serum Lactate During Craniotomy Is Associated With New Neurological Deficit and Longer Length of Stay.
Hundreds of thousands of craniotomies are performed annually in the United States. During craniotomy, elevated serum lactate is a concerning and not infrequent occurrence. Elevated intraoperative serum lactate may occur as a result of global hypoperfusion or localized intracerebral ischemia from surgical retraction or inadequate blood supply. The distinction between systemic and hypoperfusion confined to the brain is important because the treatment differs. For example, fluid resuscitation may be indicated in the former but not the latter. ⋯ Our findings highlight the importance of conducting a definitive prospective study analyzing the clinical impact and mechanism behind hyperlactatemia in the craniotomy population. Knowledge of the serum lactate level may be of value in guiding intraoperative anesthetic and surgical decision-making.