Body fluid compartment changes following cardiopulmonary bypass in dogs

To investigate whether pulsatile perfusion affects postoperative edema, we examined weight, total body water (TBW), and extracellular fluid (ECF) following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in dogs using three different perfusion systems. Fourteen dogs were divided into three groups differing only in the perfusion system used: Sarns nonpulsatile and pulsatile roller pumps and a University of Texas pulsatile pump. Weight, TBW, and ECF were measured preoperatively and on postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, and 7. No significant differences were seen in body weight, TBW, or ECF between groups. Body TBW (percent of body weight) rose significantly (P=0.005) to 72% on POD 3 and 7. ECF (percent of body weight) rose to 58% by POD 7 (P=0.008). These three perfusion systems produced no differences in the pattern of postoperative body fluid distribution after CPB, suggesting that there is no advantage to pulsatile perfusion for the purpose of decreasing postoperative edema.