Abstract
We evaluated the influence of a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) system on coagulation and fibrinolytic factors: factors XII-II, AT III, plasminogen, protein C, vWF, TAT, PIC, FDP, fibrinogen, platelet count, PT and APTT. These were measured in 13 adult cases of open heart surgery (CPB time: 106±21min) before and after surgery, and on the first postoperative day (1 POD). All factors but APTT showed statistically significant changes with time, but the activities of factors XII, X and II, and protein C stayed within normal limits. The other factors went out of normal range. These factors, except factors VII and XI, were within or on the way back to normal range on 1 POD. The most abnormal activity of each coagulation factor was not so low as to cause postoperative bleeding tendency, which in fact was not found in any patients. These data suggest that the degree of activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades may be clinically acceptable although the CPB system significantly activates it. In addition, these data in this study can serve as control when a new CPB system is determined to have a better blood compatibility.
