Abstract
Since the open heart surgery was performed, various kinds of problem concerning the extracorporeal circulation[EGG] have been known. The author investigated the changes of serum potassium ion before and after ECC among the 102 patients including 63 adults and 39 children who underwent open heart surgery from April 19S6 to February 1990 in Chung-Ang University Hospital. The mean values of potassium ion before and after ECC were analyzed according to the influencing factors such as priming solution, aortic cross clamping time, the underlying disease, the type of oxygenator and the amount of cardioplegic solution. The results were as follows: l. In the aspect of congenital and acquired heart disease groups, the mean values of serum potassium ion[Mean\ulcornerS.D.] before and after ECC revealed a significant change only in the acquired heart disease group[congenital; 3.87$\pm$0.48mEq /L vs. 4.05$\pm$0.73mEq /L, P>0.05, acquired: 4.40 $\pm$0.98mEq /L vs. 4.11$\pm$0.52mEq /L, P<0.05]. Between the two groups, the changes of the mean values of serum potassium ion before and after ECC were significant[P<0.05]. But all values were within normal limits. 2. In the aspect of the aortic cross clamping time[ACCT], in the groups of less or more than 120 minutes, the mean values of serum potassium ion before and after ECC revealed no significant change[less than 120 min; 3.97+-0.64mEq /L vs. 3.99+0.67mEq /L, P>0.05, more than 120 min; 4.34+0.82mEq /L vs. 4.27+0.62mEq /L, P>0.05], and The changes of mean values of serum potassium ion between the two groups were not significant[P>0.05]. 3. In both membrane and bubble oxygenator groups, the mean values of serum potassium ion before and after ECC did not reveal a significant difference respectively [membrane; 4.74 +1.40mEq /L vs. 4.28+0.3lmEq /L, P>0.05, bubble; 4.02 +0.60mEq /L vs. 4.05 L0.68mEq/L, P>0.05], and no differences between the membrane and bubble oxygenator groups[P >0.05]. 4. In the groups of membrane and bubble oxygenator in the cases of ACCT more than 120 minutes, the mean values of serum potassium ion before and after ECC did not reveal a significant difference respectively[membrane; 4.36$\pm$0.85mEq /L vs. 4.37$\pm$0.26mEq /L, P>0.05, bubble; 4.30 $\pm$0.80mEq/L vs. 4.23$\pm$0.67mEq/L, P>0.05], and no differences between the two groups[P>0.05]. 5. In spite of increased amount of cold potassium cardioplegic solution, the mean values of serum potassium ion before ECC were similar to those of serum potassium ion after ECC[less than 20ml /kg