• S Wan, J L LeClerc, C H Huynh, D Schmartz, J M DeSmet, A P Yim, and J L Vincent.
• Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
• J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 1999 May 1;117(5):1004-8.

ObjectiveThe mechanism involved in the endotoxemia frequently recognized during cardiopulmonary bypass remains unclear. It has also been suggested that endotoxin levels were higher in steroid-pretreated patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass.MethodsTwenty patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass were randomly pretreated with steroids (methylprednisolone, 30 mg/kg) or placebo. Blood samples for endotoxin measurement were drawn simultaneously from the superior and inferior venae cavae before heparin administration, 5 and 50 minutes after the onset of bypass, 5 minutes after aortic declamping, at the end of bypass, and 1, 2, and 20 hours after the end of cardiopulmonary bypass.ResultsThe perioperative variables in the two groups were similar. Blood endotoxin levels were higher in the inferior vena cava than in the superior vena cava immediately after the onset of bypass. Endotoxin levels in inferior vena cava blood were significantly lower in steroid-pretreated patients than those in patients not receiving steroids.ConclusionsEndotoxin is released during cardiopulmonary bypass from the region drained by the inferior vena cava. Steroid pretreatment may actually reduce endotoxin release during bypass.

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