Depletion of Neutrophils by Filter During Aortocoronary Bypass Surgery Transiently Improves Postoperative Cardiorespiratory Status

To determine whether inclusion of a leukocyte specific filter into the extracorporeal circuit during aortocoronary bypass surgery alters postoperative cardiopulmonary function. Randomized, double-blinded control trial. Tertiary care hospital. Convenience sampling of patients undergoing elective aortocoronary bypass between October 1992 and June 1993. A total of 32 patients were randomized to a leukocyte specific filter (n=16) or to a standard blood filter (n=16) during the surgical procedure. White blood cell count in the standard filter group (12.2 ±3.6 109/L) was higher (p=0.047) than in the leukocyte filter group (9.9±2.6 109/L) at 4 h postoperatively but counts were similar (p=0.063) at 24 h (10.8 ±2.7 vs 8.9±2.6 109/L, respectively). Leukocyte activation assessed by chemiluminescence was similar between groups at all measurement periods. We noted transient improvements (p