Reduced cardiac output and its correlation with coronary blood flow and troponin in asphyxiated infants treated with therapeutic hypothermia

Perinatal asphyxia can lead to multi-organ insult which includes cardiovascular dysfunction. The objective was to study the relationship between cardiac function, perfusion and troponin. Unit database was accessed to identify infants with perinatal asphyxia over the last 2 years. Information from medical records and archived echocardiographic images was retrieved. Comparisons for echocardiographic information were made with healthy term infants. Seventeen infants with perinatal asphyxia were identified, of which three were excluded (one—33 weeks gestation, two—coagulopathy and pulmonary hypertension); 14 infants received therapeutic hypothermia. Median (range) gestation and birthweight were 39 (37–42) weeks and 3,550 (2,380–3,992) g respectively. Mean (S.D.) rectal temperature and time of echocardiogram were 33.5 ± 0.5 °C and median (range) 7.7 h [3–10] respectively. Majority of infants had low biventricular outputs. Median (range) SVC flow was 29.8 ml/kg/min (13–96.2). Median (range) troponin was 0.77 μg/L (0.17–2.6); normal ≤ 0.08 μg/L. Markedly low coronary flows (diastolic VTI median (range) 2.1 (1.3–2.9) cm were noted compared to controls. Coronary flow had a significantly positive correlation with left ventricular output. Higher troponin levels were associated with lower aortic stroke velocity. A close association between cardiac output, perfusion and troponin was noted. A dichotomy between blood pressure and flow parameters was noted, indicating the wide variation in vascular resistance in these infants. Biventricular output, coronary and SVC flows were significantly higher in the control population. In conclusion, inter-variable relationship between cardiac output, coronary flow and troponin is an important addition to the understanding of cardiovascular impact of perinatal asphyxia.