Abstract
Thirty patients who underwent cardiac surgery were randomly assigned to three groups (groups N, H, and L). Patients in group N were perfused with the usual cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit, and those in groups H and L, with heparin-coated circuits. Patients received high-(300 U/kg; groups N and H) or low-dose (150 U/kg; group L) systemic heparin. In all patients, granulocyte elastase (GEL), C3a, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were measured from before the operation until 24 h after the end of CPB. The serum levels of GEL and C3a during CPB were significantly higher in group N than in the other two groups, and no significant difference was found between groups H and L at any time point. The serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 during CPB were higher in group N, and after the end of CPB, these levels were significantly lower in group L than in the other two groups. In summary, heparin-coated CPB with low systemic heparin maintains biocompatibility and allows reduced protamine administration, thus decreases systemic inflammatory responses.
