The effects of low dose N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as an adjunct to cardioplegia in coronary artery bypass surgery.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of low dose N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion damage in coronary artery bypass surgery accompanied by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).


METHODS
Thirty patients operated due to triple coronary artery disease were enrolled into this prospective randomized study (control group -n=15 and NAC group - n=15). N-acetylcysteine was added to induction cardioplegia solution in dose of 4 mmol/l and in dose of 2 mmol/l to maintenance cardioplegia solution in the NAC group. Hemodynamic measurements were performed before and after anesthesia with different intervals. Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) levels were analyzed during 24 hours postoperatively. Blood samples were obtained from coronary sinus before CPB (T1), just before the cross-clamp removed (T2) and 30 minutes later (T3). Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), nitric oxide (NO) levels and neutrophil percentage were determined. Statistical analysis was performed using student's t test, Chi-square and two-way ANOVA tests.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to the hemodynamic parameters, and CK-MB levels. The MDA levels were significantly lower in NAC group than in control group during reperfusion period (0.75 nmol/l vs 0.88 nmol/l, p<0.05). Neutrophil percentage in coronary sinus blood was significantly lower in NAC group than in control group during the reperfusion period (77.6% vs 82.7%, p<0.05). The GSH-Px and NO levels were also not statistically different between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Low dose NAC as an adjunct to cardioplegic solutions effectively reduces myocardial oxidative stress in coronary bypass surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, but may not restore the myocardial injury.
Köksal
Hakan
H
Clinic of Cardiovascular Surgery, Sivas Numune Hospital, Sivas, Turkey. hkoksalgkdc@yahoo.com
Rahman
Ali
A
Burma
Oktay
O
Halifeoğlu
Ihsan
I
Bayar
Mustafa Kemal
MK
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000601:surgery; D052279:Creatine Kinase, MB Form / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D052279:Creatine Kinase, MB Form; D000111:Acetylcysteine