Proinflammatory mediator response in coronary bypass surgery using a centrifugal or a roller pump

Major surgery, trauma, and infection induce a proinflammatory mediator response which, if excessive, may cause tissue injury. The response was measured during elective coronary bypass surgery when a centrifugal pump or a roller pump, differing in their basic working principles, was used for extracorporeal circulation (ECC). Eight patients were perfused with a centrifugal pump and eight patients with a roller pump during ECC. Plasma interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-2, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), group II phospholipase A2, (PLA2), endotoxin, fibronectin and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were measured. The operation increased plasma IL-6, group II PLA2, and serum CRP concentration and decreased plasma fibronectin concentrations. IL-1 beta and TNF alpha concentrations did not change. IL-2 occurred only occasionally, and endotoxin did not occur in any patient. No differences were seen between the group using a centrifugal pump and the group using the roller pump. Cardiac surgery with a perfusion time of less than two hours thus caused a proinflammatory mediator response which was similar whether a centrifugal or a roller pump was used for ECC.