Effect of Xuebijing injection on myocardium during cardiopulmonary bypass: A prospective, randomized, double blind trial.

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is an essential procedure for maintaining the blood supply to vital organs in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. However, perioperative cardiac injury related to CPB remains a severe complication in these patients. Cardiac protection is important for patients undergoing CPB.

Aim: To evaluate the potential cardioprotective efficacy of the Chinese medicine preparation Xuebijing injection (XBJ) in patients undergoing CPB.

Methods: Sixty patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB were randomly allocated to the XBJ and control groups (saline). XBJ was administered intravenously three times: 12 h prior to surgery, at the beginning of the surgery, and 12 h after the second injection. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography 48 h after surgery. Circulating inflammation- and oxidative-stress-related markers were measured. Clinical outcomes related to intensive care unit (ICU) stay were recorded.

Results: Compared to control treatment, XBJ was associated with improved PaO/FiO and cardiac systolic function, but reduced troponin I and creatine kinase fraction after surgery (all < 0.05). The circulating concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-8 in the XBJ group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all < 0.05), whereas the circulating concentration of IL-10 was significantly higher in the XBJ group ( < 0.05). In addition, the lengths of ICU stay and hospitalization after surgery tended to be shorter in the XBJ group than in the control group, although the differences were not significant.

Conclusion: Perioperative administration of XBJ was associated with attenuated cardiac injury during CPB, likely anti-inflammatory and antioxidative mechanisms.