Splanchnic organ injury during coronary surgery with or without cardiopulmonary bypass: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background: We investigated the efficacy of coronary surgery with or without cardiopulmonary bypass in protecting the function of the small intestine, liver, and pancreas.

Methods: Patients were randomized to off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) or coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass (CABG-CPB). Small intestine function was assessed by differential four sugars (O = methyl-D-glucose, D-xylose, L-rhamnose, and lactulose) permeability and absorption tests.

Effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on cortical cerebral oxygenation during coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: To investigate the changes in cerebral oxygenation during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using near infrared spectroscopy.

Methods: Measurement of cerebral cortical oxygenation changes included concentration of deoxygenated haemoglobin [HHb], oxygenated haemoglobin [O(2)Hb], changes in the redox status of the cytochrome c oxidase [Cyt-Ox], cerebral saturation as expressed by the tissue oxygenation index (TOI), and cerebral blood volume (CBV) as expressed by tissue haemoglobin index (THI). Measurements were performed in 19 consecutive patients undergoing normothermic (34-36 degrees C) CPB.

Cerebral cortical oxygenation changes during OPCAB surgery.

Background: We investigated the changes occurring in cerebral cortical oxygenation during off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).

Methods: Measurement of cerebral cortical oxygenation changes included concentration of deoxygenated hemoglobin [HHb], oxygenated hemoglobin [O(2)Hb], changes in the redox status of the cytochrome c oxidase [Cyt-Ox], cerebral saturation as expressed by the tissue oxygenation index (TOI), and cerebral blood volume (CBV) as expressed by tissue hemoglobin index (THI). Measurements were performed in 23 consecutive patients during grafting of: left anterior descending (LAD setup 1; n = 23), posterior descending (PDA setup 2; n = 17), and Circumflex (Cx setup 3; n = 19) coronary arteries.

Nitric oxide donating aspirins: novel drugs for the treatment of saphenous vein graft failure.

Background: A new class of nitric oxide donating aspirin (NO-ASA) drugs may increase the therapeutic impact of aspirin in saphenous vein coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) not only through the inhibition of thrombosis but also through a reduction of vasospasm and inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation (effects that are inhibited by NO but not ASA). In order to test this proposal the effect of three NO-ASA drugs (NCX4040, NCX4050, and NCX4060) on in vitro relaxation and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) formation in the human isolated saphenous vein and the proliferation of human VSMCs was investigated.

Methods: Saphenous vein segments were obtained from 30 patients undergoing CABG (median age, 59 years; range, 49 to 68).

Sustained increases of plasma homocysteine, copper, and serum ceruloplasmin after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: Homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease, but there are no reports on Hcy levels in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Interactions between Hcy and copper may mediate the vasculopathic impact of Hcy, and this may play a role in vein graft failure. The aim of this study was to assess the perioperative levels of Hcy, copper, ceruloplasmin (CP), folate, and vitamin B12 in patients undergoing myocardial revascularization surgery.