The Role of Cardiopulmonary Bypass on the Early Postoperative IgG levels, Effect on the Postoperative Outcome in Cardiac Surgery Patients - A Pilot Study

Objective: This study tried to elucidate the role of the cardiopulmonary bypass on the early postoperative immunoglobulin G levels and any probable effects on the postoperative outcome of the patients. Methods: 99 consecutive patients were studied. The evening after surgery the level of the immunoglobulin G was obtained. The postoperative course of each patient during the first three days was followed. One way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Results: 20 (20.2%) patients had decreased early postoperative immunoglobulin G levels. 87 (87.87%) patients were operated with cardiopulmonary bypass and 17 (19.54%) of them had lower levels of postoperative immunoglobulin G without any significantly increased clinically adverse events. The statistical analysis between the two groups included: pulmonary infiltrations, leukocytosis >15x10 3 /mm 3 , pulmonary dysfunction, mechanical ventilation >24h, renal and hepatic dysfunction, postoperative ileus, postoperative delirium, sternal wound infection, thrombocytopenia <60x10 3 / mm 3 and sepsis. The statistical results were: p =0.815, p =0.88, p =0.93, p =0.30, p =0.67, p =0.13, p =0.84, p =0.38, p =0.76 respectively. Conclusion: In this pilot study we tried to explore the role of cardiopulmonary bypass on the early postoperative levels of immunoglobulin G and to establish any correlation with the postoperative outcome. The use of cardiopulmonary bypass and its duration did not prove to be risk factors for low early postoperative immunoglobulin G levels. In our opinion the prophylactic use of IVIG in this group of patients has no benefit. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v7i2.22247 Cardiovasc. j. 2015; 7(2): 79-84