Normothermic versus hypothermic perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass. A randomized study on 132 patients.

BACKGROUND

A prospective randomized trial to compare normothermic CPB with hypothermic CPB has been performed.

METHODS

132 patients undergoing CPB were randomized into two groups: group 1 underwent normothermic CPB and group 2 hypothermic CPB (between 26 and 30 degrees C).

RESULTS

Any significant difference was observed between the groups with regard to hospital mortality, blood transfusions, incidence of neurologic deficits and hematocrit, blood hemoglobin levels, platelet counts, plasma concentrations of glutamic-pyruvic transminase, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, creatine kinase, valued at the 12th and 24th postoperative hour and at the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th postoperative day. A significant difference was observed between the groups with regard to tracheal extubation time, discharge time from the intensive care unit and inotropic drug infusion. The normothermic CPB patients group needed shorter time for tracheal extubation and discharge from the intensive care unit: this difference may be ascribed to a shorter inotropic drug infusion. Any increased surgical risks have been observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, we think that normothermic CPB is favourable because it can reduce costs, it can improve the management of a cardiac surgery unit and it is more comfortable for patients.