Neutrophil elastase activity(NEA) was measured before and during cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) in elective adult cardiac surgery(n＝8). Duration of CPB was 126±52min(mean±SD). NEA was under the detectable level before CPB, and tended to increase at 30 and 60 min of CPB. At the end of CPB, the NEA was significantly higher than that before CPB. It was concluded that it took a few hours for neutrophil elastase to be activated during CPB.
