Metabolic and haemodynamic changes in the heart during the early phase of cardiopulmonary bypass: I. Clinical observations

Knowledge of the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on the myocardium and on cardiac function is limited. We therefore studied changes in haemodynamics and myocardial metabolism during the initial phase of cardiopulmonary bypass in two patient groups. In one group “normothermia” (34°C) was used while on bypass, with an empty beating heart; in the other group hypothermia (range 27–33°C) with ventricular fibrillation was used. Mean aortic pressure and myocardial oxygen consumption decreased significantly in both groups after instalment of CPB. The arterial-coronary sinus differences in lactate changed to negative values within 5 min of the start of bypass, indicating release instead of uptake of lactate. This release was maintained during the observation period and increased significantly in the hypothermic patient group when the ventricles were fibrillating. Therefore in patients undergoing aorto-coronary bypass surgery, detrimental changes in the myocardium must be anticipated during the initial phase of cardiopulmonary bypass prior to aortic cross clamping.