ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery is followed by various degrees of inflammation, which have harmful consequences. Because of the central role of extracorporeal circulation (EC), off-pump coronary bypass surgery is deemed preferable. Do different modalities of EC challenge this view? METHODS: Four groups of similar patients underwent coronary surgery: (group 1) on-pump, EC with closed surface modifying additives (SMA) circuit and no pump suckers (n = 20); (group 2) on-pump, EC with open SMA circuit and pump suckers (n = 20); (group 3) off-pump (beating heart) and heparin 3 mg/kg (n = 20); (group 4) off-pump (beating heart) and heparin 1 mg/kg (n = 20). Interleukins (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, myeloperoxidase, elastase, and terminal complex of the complement (TCC) were analyzed at various times: at induction (time I); after heparin (time II); after complete revascularization (time III); after protamine (time IV); and 24 hours later (time V). RESULTS: The TCC was significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 at time III. The pattern of IL-6 was the same for the four groups. No significant difference in myeloperoxydase content was noted; however, elastase was significantly higher in the two EC (on-pump) groups. CONCLUSIONS: Except for the complement system and elastase, on-pump surgery with SMA-coated circuits did not elicit any greater inflammatory response than off-pump surgery.
