Hemostatic Benefits of Normothermic Cardiopulmonary Bypass without Ice Slush

Abstract

Background and Aims : We have simplified the method of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) from moderate hypothermia with ice slush topical cooling to normothermia without ice slush. In this study, we evaluated the hemostatic benefit of normothermic CPB.
Patients and Methods : Forty-three patients who had undergone standard coronary artery bypass grafting or single valve replacement until April 1998 to January 2001 were investigated. The hypothermia and normothermia group included 22 and 21 patients, respectively.
Results : Bleeding control time from the end of CPB to the end of surgery was significantly (p<0.01) shorter in the normothermia group than in the hypothermia group (102±17 versus 131±31 minutes). Total bleeding during surgery was significantly (p<0.01) less in the normothermia group than in the hypothermia group (328±149 versus 613±387ml). Postoperative 12-hour bleeding was less in the normothermia group (183±75 versus 248±110ml ; p <0.05). The platelet count immediately after surgery remained higher in the normothermia group than in the hypothermia group (12.8±5.3 versus 8.7±3.0× 104/mm3; p<0.01).
Conclusions : Normothermic CPB effectively shortened bleeding control time after CPB, significantly reducing intraoperative and postoperative bleeding, probably due to platelet preservation.