Effects of tolvaptan in the early postoperative stage after heart valve surgery: results of the STAR (Study of Tolvaptan for fluid retention AfteR valve surgery) trial

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of tolvaptan, a vasopressin V2 receptor agonist, for the management of postoperative surgical fluid retention after heart valve surgery. This was a prospective observational study of 64 patients with heart valve disease who underwent valve surgery between 2013 and 2014. Those in the tolvaptan group received tolvaptan in addition to conventional diuretic therapy. The results were compared to the results of 55 patients who underwent heart valve surgery between 2007 and 2010 and received conventional postoperative diuretics alone. The time to return to the preoperative BW was significantly shorter in the patients who received tolvaptan (6.1 +/- A 3.8 vs. 8.7 +/- A 6.7 days, p < 0.05), while the level of sodium was significantly decreased in the patients who received conventional diuretics. The degree of increase in the creatinine level tended to be smaller in the tolvaptan group. The response to tolvaptan was related to the postoperative degree of BW increase and the preoperative creatinine level. Tolvaptan was effective in treating fluid retention during the early postoperative stage in cardiac surgery patients, without increased renal failure or abnormal electrolyte levels. This new type of diuretic therapy may be a suitable option for postoperative fluid management in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.