[Application of modified ultrafiltration to cardiac surgery in adults]

Modified Ultrafiltration (MUF) was developed for blood concentration and reduction of postoperative edema in cardiac surgery in children. Its beneficial effects on postoperative hemodynamics have been reported. We applied MUF to cardiac surgery in adults and evaluated its usefulness. Between August, 1995 and April, 1997, MUF was performed in 41 adult patients. MUF was carried out immediately after the cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass. The mean fluid volume removed was 1,135.9 +/- 274.1 ml. The patient's haematocrit significantly increased from 23.2 +/- 2.6% to 26.9 +/- 3.2% (p < 0.0001). The dose of inotropes administered was maintained constant during MUF, and no changes were observed in CVP and the heart rate. However, the systolic blood pressure increased from 99.5 +/- 14.7 to 113.2 +/- 16.2 mmHg (p < 0.0001) and cardiac index from 4.2 +/- 0.9 to 4.9 +/- 1.3 l/min/m2 (p = 0.0006). It was suggested that MUF was an useful technique of haemoconcentration and appeared to have beneficial effects on postoperative hemodynamics in adult cardiac surgery.