The impact of heparin coated circuits upon metabolism in vital organs: effect upon cerebral and renal function during and after cardiopulmonary bypass.

During cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the brain and the kidneys may be damaged because of microemboli, ischemia, and inflammation. The latter has been reduced by the use of heparin coated circuits. We questioned whether heparin coated circuits could also reduce cerebral and renal damage and whether inflammatory markers correlate with damage to the brain and the kidneys. Fifty-one patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting were perfused with either a heparin coated or an uncoated circuit. To compare the effect of a heparin coated circuit with an uncoated circuit upon cerebral and renal function in relation to inflammation, we assessed markers of cerebral (S100beta) and renal (N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase [NAG], creatinine, and urea) function, inflammation, and oxygen metabolism. S100beta levels and NAG levels increased during CPB in both groups as compared with baseline levels (p < 0.01), without differences between the groups. After 15 minutes on CPB, C4b/c levels were significantly higher in the coated group compared with the uncoated group (p < 0.02). C4b/c correlated with S100beta (p < 0.01). Total body oxygen delivery (DO2) and consumption (VO2) decreased significantly in both groups during CPB (p < 0.01), but recovery was better in the coated group. After protamine infusion, total body oxygen delivery and consumption correlated negatively with S100beta levels (both p < 0.05) and with NAG levels (both p < 0.01). This study suggests that, if adequate tissue perfusion is not maintained, the use of a heparin coated circuit gives no additional benefit beyond that of the uncoated circuit. The inverse relationship of both cerebral and renal markers with DO2 and VO2 suggests that increased levels of S100beta and NAG during CPB may primarily be caused by an oxygen deficit and secondary to the inflammatory response.

Pressure-diameter relationship in the human greater saphenous vein.

BACKGROUND: Compliance of artificial and autologous vascular grafts is related to future patency. We investigated whether differences in compliance exist between saphenous vein grafts derived from the upper or lower leg, which might indicate upper or lower leg saphenous vein preference in coronary artery bypass surgery. Furthermore, the effect of perivenous application of fibrin glue on mechanical vein wall properties was studied to evaluate its possible use as perivenous graft support. METHODS: Vein segments (N = 10) from upper or lower leg saphenous vein grafts were collected for histopathologic examination and smooth muscle cell/extracellular matrix (SMC/ECM) ratio was calculated. This ratio is suggested to be related with vascular elastic compliance. In a second group vein graft segments (N = 6) from upper and lower leg were placed in an in vitro model generating stepwise increasing static pressure up to 150 cm H(2)O. Outer diameter was measured continuously with a video micrometer system. Distensibility was calculated from the pressure-diameter curves. A third group of vein graft segments (N = 7) was pressurized after fibrin glue application to prevent overdistension, and studied in the same setup. RESULTS: Vein segments from the lower leg demonstrated a consistent higher relative response compared with the upper leg saphenous vein graft (0.9176 +/- 0.03993 vs 0.5245 +/- 0.02512). Both reach a plateau in the high-pressure range (> 100 cm H(2)O). A significant difference in in vitro distensibility between upper and lower leg saphenous vein was only found at a pressure of 50 cm H(2)O (p < 0.05). With fibrin glue, support overdistension is prevented as revealed by the maximum relative response between fibrin glue supported upper and lower leg saphenous vein segments (0.4080 +/- 0.02464 vs 0.582 +/- 0.051), and no plateau is reached in the pressure range up to 150 cm H(2)O. CONCLUSIONS: No upper or lower leg saphenous vein preference could be deduced from the differences in pressure-diameter response due to loss of distensibility (and thus of compliance) in the high-pressure range. Fibrin glue effectively prevents overdistension and preserves some distensibility in the high-pressure range in both the upper and lower leg saphenous vein. This might provide a basis for clinical application of perivenous support.