Cerebral oxygenation during non-blood prime cardiopulmonary bypass in congenital heart surgery

To analyze oxygen delivery to the brain and cerebral cellular oxygenation during non-blood prime and blood prime cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), 22 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB were studied by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitor (NIRO 500, Hamamatsu Photonics). NIRS can assess continuously cytochrome oxidase (Cyt.aa 3) which is the terminal enzyme of the intramitochondrial respiratory chain. Patients were grouped according to conditions of CPB management: one group underwent repair with non-blood prime (group A, n = 12); the second group underwent with blood prime (group B, n = 10). Body weights ranged from 5.5 kg to 58 kg in group A, and 2.9 kg to 16 kg respectively. CPB was maintained at flow rates between 100 to 150 ml/kg/min. and the acid-base management strategy was alpha stat in all patients. No neurological complication was observed. NIRS date were expressed as changes from baseline where cannulation was prepared. The lowest value of Cyt.aa 3 was -2.7 +/- 0.7 mumol/l in the group A, and -3.9 +/- 1.0 mumol/l in the group B. From the standpoint of changes in Cyt.aa 3, non-blood prime cases we studied were speculated to be within a safety limit. In order to define the definite safety limits, however, further studies including the reduction velocity of Cyt.aa 3 signal as well as the absolute value of the lowest Cyt.aa 3 concentration are required.