True or False: Hyperlactatemia after cardiac surgery is typically due to increased lactate production.

The correct response indicates that the statement is false. While hyperlactatemia, or elevated lactate levels in the blood, can result from increased lactate production, it is not exclusively due to this mechanism after cardiac surgery.

In the context of cardiac surgery, hyperlactatemia often arises from several factors, including tissue hypoperfusion, inadequate oxygen delivery to tissues, and the resultant anaerobic metabolism. During surgery, especially if there are complications or prolonged periods of low blood flow, tissues can become hypoxic. The body compensates for the lack of oxygen by producing lactate as a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism.

Additionally, metabolic factors, such as increased glucose utilization, can lead to lactate production. Monitoring lactate levels postoperatively helps assess a patient’s overall perfusion status and metabolic state. Therefore, concluding that hyperlactatemia is typically due solely to increased lactate production oversimplifies the complex biochemical pathways and physiological responses after cardiac surgery.

Understanding this distinction is crucial for recognizing the varied causes of altered lactate levels in postoperative care, aiding in better clinical decision-making and patient management.