Effect of Individualized vs Standard Blood Pressure Management Strategies on Postoperative Organ Dysfunction Among High-Risk Patients Undergoing Major Surgery : A Randomized Clinical Trial

Key Points

Question

Does a strategy based on individualized blood pressure management reduce postoperative complications among high-risk patients undergoing major abdominal surgery?

Findings

In this randomized clinical trial involving 292 patients, most of whom underwent abdominal surgery, an individualized management strategy of targeting a systolic blood pressure within 10% of the patient’s normal resting value, compared with standard practice, resulted in significantly lower rates of postoperative organ dysfunction (38.1% vs 51.7%, respectively).

Meaning

Among patients undergoing abdominal surgery, an individualized blood pressure management strategy during surgery tailored to individual patient physiology may improve postoperative outcomes.

Abstract

This randomized clinical trial compares the effects of an individualized blood pressure management strategy vs standard blood pressure management strategy on postoperative organ dysfunction among high-risk patients undergoing major surgery.

Abstract

Importance

Perioperative hypotension is associated with an increase in postoperative morbidity and mortality, but the appropriate management strategy remains uncertain.

Objective

To evaluate whether an individualized blood pressure management strategy tailored to individual patient physiology could reduce postoperative organ dysfunction.

Design, Setting, and Participants

The Intraoperative Norepinephrine to Control Arterial Pressure (INPRESS) study was a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial conducted in 9 French university and nonuniversity hospitals. Adult patients (n = 298) at increased risk of postoperative complications with a preoperative acute kidney injury risk index of class III or higher (indicating moderate to high risk of postoperative kidney injury) undergoing major surgery lasting 2 hours or longer under general anesthesia were enrolled from December 4, 2012, through August 28, 2016 (last follow-up, September 28, 2016).

Interventions

Individualized management strategy aimed at achieving a systolic blood pressure (SBP) within 10% of the reference value (ie, patient’s resting SBP) or standard management strategy of treating SBP less than 80 mm Hg or lower than 40% from the reference value during and for 4 hours following surgery.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was a composite of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and dysfunction of at least 1 organ system of the renal, respiratory, cardiovascular, coagulation, and neurologic systems by day 7 after surgery. Secondary outcomes included the individual components of the primary outcome, durations of ICU and hospital stay, adverse events, and all-cause mortality at 30 days after surgery.

Results

Among 298 patients who were randomized, 292 patients completed the trial (mean [SD] age, 70 [7] years; 44 [15.1%] women) and were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. The primary outcome event occurred in 56 of 147 patients (38.1%) assigned to the individualized treatment strategy vs 75 of 145 patients (51.7%) assigned to the standard treatment strategy (relative risk, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.94; P = .02; absolute risk difference, −14%, 95% CI, −25% to −2%). Sixty-eight patients (46.3%) in the individualized treatment group and 92 (63.4%) in the standard treatment group had postoperative organ dysfunction by day 30 (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.84; P = .001). There were no significant between-group differences in severe adverse events or 30-day mortality.

Conclusions and Relevance

Among patients predominantly undergoing abdominal surgery who were at increased postoperative risk, management targeting an individualized systolic blood pressure, compared with standard management, reduced the risk of postoperative organ dysfunction.

Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01536470