Impact of Pumps on Internal Thoracic Arteries (IPITA)

Cardiopulmonary Bypass and Internal Thoracic Arteries: Can Roller or Centrifugal Pumps Change Vascular Reactivity of the Grafts

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) induces a systemic inflammatory response and affects the organ vascular bed. Experimentally, the lack of pulsatility alters myogenic tone of resistance arteries and increases the parietal inflammatory response. The purpose of this study was to compare the vascular reactivity and the inflammatory response of the internal thoracic arteries (ITAs) between patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) under CPB with a roller pump or with a centrifugal pump.

Eighty elective male patients undergoing CABG were selected using one or two internal thoracic arteries under CPB with a roller pump (RP group) or centrifugal pump (CFP group). ITA samples were collected before starting CPB (Time 1) and before the last coronary anastomosis during aortic cross clamping (Time 2). Terminal complement complex activation (SC5b-9) and neutrophil activation (elastase) analysis were performed on arterial blood at the same times.

Inclusion Criteria:

• male patients and elective coronary artery bypass grafting using at least one of the two ITAs.

Exclusion Criteria:

• female patients because their complement activation has been shown to be greater than that in men during surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass ; age < 18 years; CABG requiring additional valve repair or replacement; emergency surgery and insufficient length of the internal thoracic artery