Leukocyte filtration in the early reperfusion phase on cardiopulmonary bypass reduces myocardial injury

Improved myocardial protection and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) have limite d, but not abolished, intraoperative myocardial damage due to surgical repe rfusion injury after release of the aortic crossclamp. In this double-blind , randomized study, we evaluated whether short-term leukocyte filtration du ring reperfusion may further reduce myocardial damage. Thirty-eight patient s with coronary artery disease were randomly assigned to CPB with (group I; n = 19) or without leukocyte filtration (group II; n = 19). There was no d ifference in bypass time or crossclamp time between the groups. No patient in group I required catecholamines, whereas three patients in group II were supported with adrenaline or dobutamine on the first and second postoperat ive day. In addition, troponin T plasma levels were lower in group I (p < 0 .05), whereas other markers for tissue injury (CK, CK-MB, LDH, S-GOT and S1 00B) did not differ. In conclusion, leukocyte filtration during reperfusion may further improve CPB by reducing myocardial damage.