title: Effect of a miniaturized extracorporeal circulation (MECC System) on liver function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of a miniaturized extracorporeal circulation system (MECC System) compared to conventional extracorporeal circulation (ECC) regarding liver function in cardiac surgical patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double indicator dilution measurements were achieved by bolus injection of indocyanine green (ICG) for assessment of cardiac index (CI) and plasma disappearance rate of ICG (PDRig). Measurements were simultaneously performed preoperatively after induction of anaesthesia (T1), following admission on the ICU (T2) and 6 h postoperatively (T3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  CI and PDRig were markedly increased after cardiac surgery without significant differences between groups. The percentage increase in CI was significantly correlated to the percentage increase in PDRig in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver function improved after cardiac surgery in both groups of patients, which may partly be explained by an increase in CI under mild inotrope support. Differences between the extracorporeal circuits with respect to PDRig appear to be minimal in a group of patients without pre-existing liver injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospital of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. christopher.prasser@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prasser
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbady
authors.forename: Cornelius
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Keyl
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liebold
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tenderich
authors.forename: Alois
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Philipp
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wiesenack
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002302:Cardiac Output; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004395:Dye Dilution Technique; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007208:Indocyanine Green