Effects of Extracorporeal Circulation upon Blood Lipids

A lipid profile (total lipids, free fatty acids, triglycerides, and serum lipase) and evidence of fatty emboli were studied in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass with median sternotomy or thoracotomy and with or without cardiopulmonary bypass. Although hyperlipemia developed in all patients, there was no statistical difference between the thoracotomy and median sternotomy groups. A marked rise in all four lipid profile factors occurred when both cardiopulmonary bypass and median sternotomy were utilized. Examination of the sputum and urine for evidence of fat and funduscopy for evidence of fat embolization proved to be useless. The postoperative rise in lipid profile factors showed no statistically significant effect on the incidence of neurological or pulmonary complications. A Pall blood filter was used in a second group of patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, but the incidence of neurological or pulmonary complications was similar.