Reduction of the inflammatory reaction with the use of heparin coating has been found during and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The question remains whether this reduced reaction also decreases the magnitude of CPB-induced pulmonary dysfunction. We therefore evaluated the effects of a heparin-coated circuit versus a similar uncoated circuit on pulmonary indices as well as on inflammatory markers of complement activation (C3b/c), elastase-alpha(1)-antitrypsin complex, and secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) during and after CPB. Fifty-one patients were randomly assigned into two groups undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with either a heparin-coated (Group 1) or an uncoated (Group 2) circuit. During CPB, a continuous positive airway pressure of 5 cm H(2)O and a fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO(2)) of 0.21 were maintained. Differences in favor of the coated circuit were found in pulmonary shunt fraction (P < 0.05), pulmonary vascular resistance index (P < 0.05), and PaO(2)/FIO(2) ratio (P < 0.05) after CPB and in the intensive care unit. During and after CPB, the coated group demonstrated lower levels of sPLA(2). After CPB, C3b/c and the elastase-alpha(1)-antitrypsin complex were significantly less in the coated group (P < 0.001). The coated circuit was associated with a reduced inflammatory response, decreased pulmonary vascular resistance index and pulmonary shunt fraction, and increased PaO(2)/FIO(2) ratio, suggesting that the coated circuit may have beneficial effects on pulmonary function. The correlation with sPLA(2), leukocyte activation, and postoperative leukocyte count suggests reduced activation of pulmonary capillary endothelial cells.
Implications: Heparin coating of the extracorporeal circuit reduces the inflammatory response during cardiopulmonary bypass. Analysis of indices of pulmonary function indicates that use of heparin coating may result in less impaired gas exchange.