Deleterious Effects of Hyperoxemic Extracorporeal Circulation during Cardiovascular Surgery

Although extracorporeal circulation (ECC) has been routinely used for cardiovascular surgery, hyperoxemia during ECC may produce oxygen toxicity and cellular injury. This study was performed to investigate the clinical influences of hyperoxemic ECC during cardiovascular operation. 40 adult patients scheduled for elective cardiovascular surgery were classified into normoxemic (arterial oxygen tension: 115 mmHg, n＝20) and hyperoxemic (arterial oxygen tension: 380 mmHg, n＝20) ECC. At preoperative and postoperative period, total leukocyte and neutrophil counts, platelet counts, iron, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine in peripheral arterial blood, malondialdehyde (MDA) and troponin-T concentration (TnT) in coronary sinus blood, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and postoperative blood loss volume (BLS) were measured and compared between groups. Hyperoxemic group had postoperatively higher total leukocyte and neutrophil counts, MDA, TnT, PVR total BLS, iron, glucose, AST, ALT, BUN, and creatinine than normoxemic group (p<0.05).0 conclusion, hyperoxemic ECC results in greater inflammatory response and oxidative damaging effects on the heart lung, liver and kidney, probably being adverse to postoperative patient recovery. For reducing these deleterious effects and improving postoperative outcomes, management lowering oxygen tension during ECC is recommended.