Initial experience with a minimized extracorporeal bypass system: is there a clinical benefit?
BACKGROUND
Drawbacks of conventional cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are increased inflammatory response, deteriorated coagulation and systemic organ dysfunction. A closed extracorporeal circuit (CorX) features reduced foreign surface area and priming volume. Potential benefits were studied in comparing the CorX system with conventional CPB in arrested heart coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).


METHODS
Two hundred and four patients were randomly assigned either to CorX system (n = 101, group A) or a standard CPB with cardiotomy reservoir (n = 103, group B). Besides evaluation of perioperative data and routine blood samples, we focused on lung function and perioperative bleeding. Polymorphonuclear elastase (PMNE) and terminal complement complex (TCC) served to assess inflammatory response.


RESULTS
Patient demographics and operative data did not differ between groups. Postoperative lung function was not significantly impaired comparing groups A and B. Intraoperative blood loss was significantly higher in group A compared with group B (1245 +/- 947 mL vs 313 +/- 282 mL, p < 0.0001) as well as the need of fresh frozen plasma. Postoperative chest drainage did not differ significantly between groups. Two patients in each group required re-exploration due to bleeding. One hour after CPB, PMNE as well as TCC were significantly lower in group A compared with group B (PMNE: 76 +/- 44 ng/mL vs 438 +/- 230 ng/mL, p < 0.0001; TCC: 16 +/- 8 IU/mL vs 29 +/- 19 IU/mL, p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The CorX system is safe and feasible in patients undergoing CABG. Despite of markedly reduced inflammatory reaction, no clinical benefit was observed.
Abdel-Rahman
Ulf
U
Department for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. abdel-rahman@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Ozaslan
Feyzan
F
Risteski
Petar S
PS
Martens
Sven
S
Moritz
Anton
A
Al Daraghmeh
Abdallah
A
Keller
Harald
H
Wimmer-Greinecker
Gerhard
G
D000368:Aged; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex / Q000032:analysis; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*
D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase