Risk Factors for Pancreatic Cellular Injury after Cardiopulmonary Bypass

MORE than 500,000 cardiac surgical operations are performed each year in the United States. 1 In general, there has been a progressive reduction in postoperative morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgical procedures. 2 3 4 5 As postoperative deaths due to cardiac-related causes have decreased, 2 , 6 understanding the pathogenesis of noncardiac complications of heart surgery has assumed greater importance. Any further reduction in perioperative morbidity and mortality is likely to result from the prevention of these noncardiac complications. Pancreatitis is an infrequent but well-recognized complication of cardiac surgery. It has been reported to follow all types of open-heart surgery, including cardiac transplantation and pediatric procedures. 7 8 9 10 11 12 We . . .