Retrospective study determine whether ulinastatin enhances postoperative pulmonary oxygenation after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

This retrospective study evaluate patients who underwent aortic valvular surgery under moderate hypothermic CPB. The patients were classified into two groups: patients in whom high-dose ulinastatin (10,000 U/kg and 5,000 U/kg/h) was administered during CPB (Group-U); and patients in whom ulinastatin was not administered (Group-C). We measured PaO2/FiO2 at the following time points: before CPB (Pre-CPB), 2 hours after weaning from CPB (Post-CPB) and within 6 hours after admission to the ICU. The lengths of ventilator care and ICU stay were also reviewed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients who underwent aortic repair or replacement under moderate hypothermic CPB

Exclusion Criteria:

• Preoperative:

< 19 years old, > 85 years old, emergency operation, reoperation, left ventricular ejection fraction < 50%, arrhythmia, ischaemic myocardial disease, uncontrollable hypertension or hypotension, pericardial disease, pre-existing hepatic dysfunction, pre-existing renal dysfunction or underlying lung disease.

• Intraoperative:

intraoperative application of an intra-aortic balloon pump, administration of steroids or tranexamic acid, and transfusion of fresh frozen plasma or platelet concentrates during CPB.

• Postoperative:

reoperation for surgical correction of intractable postoperative bleeding within 2 hours after the end of surgery and transfusion of any banked blood products.