Effect of Haemodynamic Changes on Epithelium-related Intestinal Injury in Off-pump Coronary Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Intestinal injury is thought to play a central role in the occurrence of multiorgan dysfunction after on-pump coronary surgery. Clinical benefits of off-pump revascularisation remain, however, controversial. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Hepatic enzymes and plasmatic IL-6, IL-8 and intestinal-type fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) were determined in 20 patients (age 65-75) undergoing either on-pump (n=10) or off-pump (n=10) coronary surgery. Haemodynamic and biochemical parameters, catecholamine and volume therapy were monitored. RESULTS: Central venous pressure (CVP) was significantly higher in the off-pump group during and 12h after operation (9.5+/-1.35 vs. 6.21+/-0.63mmH2O, p=0.012). Higher GGT and GLDH levels occurred in the off-pump group and correlated with the elevated I-FABP levels at 24h (935.8+/-83.7 vs. 370.4+/-67.7pg/mL, p<0.001). CVP correlated with I-FABP peak values (Pearson's coefficient 0.852). IL-6 and IL-8 were released to a lower extent in the off-pump group compared to on pump (p<0.05) at 24h (139.3+/-27.7 vs. 279.4+/-56.2 and 15.3+/-7.4 vs. 38.5+/-13.8pg/mL) and at 72h post-operatively (4.5+/-2.1 vs. 30.1+/-12.1 and 7.8+/-1.2 vs. 17.1+/-5.2pg/mL). CONCLUSIONS: While inflammatory activation is reduced with CPB avoidance, elevated CVP during off-pump surgery is followed by temporary postoperative enterocyte damage that may threaten the normal function of the gastrointestinal system and lead - in certain groups of high risk patients - to irrecoverable injury