Whole body oxygen consumption after hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass

Whole body oxygen consumption and the substrate for energy production during the post-bypass period have not been clarified. We hypothesized that the substrate composition for energy production during post-bypass period might be different from that during pre-bypass period because of surgical diabetic state induced by hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We measured whole body oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and respiratory quotient by the gas exchange method using the Datex Deltatrac before and after hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. We also measured oxygen consumption by Fick's principle. Whole body oxygen consumption (P < 0.001) and carbon dioxide production (P < 0.05) increased significantly above pre-CPB values after the termination of CPB. Respiratory quotient (P < 0.01) decreased significantly below pre-CPB values after the termination of CPB. We conclude that oxygen consumption increased significantly above pre-bypass values after the termination of hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass at least under the fentanyl, diazepam, chlorpromazine anesthesia with continuous infusion of nitroglycerin and nicardipine. The changes in respiratory quotient suggest a relatively higher ratio of lipid metabolism for energy production during post-bypass period.