Mini-cardiopulmonary bypass system: results of a prospective randomized study.

Background: We studied postoperative mortality and morbidity after coronary artery bypass graft surgery performed using the mini-extracorporeal circulation (MECC) system.

Methods: From June 2001 to June 2002, we randomly enrolled 60 patients who underwent isolated elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and were operated on with the MECC system (30 patients: group A) or standard cardiopulmonary bypass (30 patients: group B). Serial blood samples were collected to evaluate the main preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative clinical and biological variables; and to measure hemolysis, interleukin-6 cytokine, and plasma C-reactive protein release.