Changes of serum pyruvate and lactate in open-heart surgery

In 20 patients under extracorporeal bypass, a study was undertaken of the changes in plasma of lactate and pyruvate, the lactate/pyruvate ratio and the lactate excess. A decrease has been found in the pyruvate and an increase in the other values lasting for the first days of the post-operative period. The causes may be many, such as changes in the oxidation potential, blood transfusions and liver function, and these may be manifested in an increase in the serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, lactic dehydrogenase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase.