[Metabolic aspects of hypothermic extracorporeal circulation]

The submitted paper is devoted to some aspects of metabolic and immunity reactions of the organism to extracorporeal circulation. The authors focused attention in particular on a correlation of the whole-body oxygen consumption and the blood sugar level. Surprising findings comprise the rise of the whole-body oxygen consumption which occurs before the tissue temperature rises. As far as toxic oxygen radicals are concerned, their release is individual. It is, however, important that during the perfusion proper the activation of the immune system is suppressed. The course of the extracorporeal circulation was satisfactory from the clinical aspect; despite that it cannot be considered physiological, as also apparent from some biochemical findings.