Higher bypass temperature correlates with increased white cell activation in the cerebral microcirculation.

Objective: Cardiopulmonary bypass induces a systemic inflammatory response, which in turn promotes a cascade of leukocyte and endothelial cell activity. We investigated whether differences in bypass temperature and flow rate affect endothelial cell and leukocyte adhesion in the cerebral microcirculation.

Methods: Thirty-six piglets (13.0 +/- 1.1 kg) had a cranial window placed over the parietal cortex to evaluate the microcirculation by means of intravital microscopy. Animals were cooled to a temperature of 15 degrees C, 25 degrees C, or 34 degrees C on cardiopulmonary bypass with hematocrit levels of 20% or 30% by using pH-stat management, followed by 60 minutes of reduced flow (10, 25, or 50 mL.kg(-1).min(-1)). Rhodamine staining was used to observe adherent and rolling leukocytes in postcapillary venules.

Results: Higher bypass temperature correlated with significantly more adherent and rolling leukocytes during the full 60 minutes of low-flow bypass (P <.05). Poisson regression revealed more adherent leukocytes at 34 degrees C than at 15 degrees C and at a flow rate of 10 mL.kg(-1).min(-1) compared with a flow rate of 50 mL.kg(-1).min(-1). There was an inverse correlation between flow rate and the number of adherent and rolling leukocytes at 30, 45, and 60 minutes of low-flow bypass (P <.05). Temperature was a multivariable predictor of histologic score, with greater neurologic damage found after bypass at 34 degrees C (P <.01).

Conclusions: Leukocyte activation in cerebral microcirculation is increased with higher temperature and lower flow rate, suggesting that these variables influence the inflammatory response during cardiopulmonary bypass.