Thyroid hormone supplementation following open-heart surgery in children

In patients undergoing open-heart surgery, abnormalities in thyroid hormone levels have been observed even in the absence of primary thyroid disease. These abnormal changes in thyroid hormone level and function have been found to be sufficient to affect myocardial performance and postoperative recovery. In the intensive care unit, postoperatively, it has been found that features such as low cardiac output, left ventricular dysfunction and prolonged ventilator support were associated with hypothyroidism. We reviewed the available literature on the effect of thyroid hormone supplementation in paediatric patients undergoing open-heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass and concluded that children after complex congenital cardiac surgery are at risk of developing a clinically significant hypothyroid state in the early postoperative period. In the literature where the effects of supplementation of thyroxine were studied, beneficial effects were observed in terms of reduced mechanical ventilation time, reduced inotropic support and intensive care unit stay, rapid achievement of negative fluid balance and early recovery. Supplementation with thyroid hormones enables a smoother postoperative recovery and is beneficial. The total duration of this therapy is, however, unclear.