Does a hyperoncotic cardiopulmonary bypass prime affect extravascular lung water and cardiopulmonary function in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery?

Objective: Different types of colloidal priming for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) have been used to reduce fluid load and to avoid the fall of plasma colloid osmotic pressure, (COP) that leads to edema formation and consequently can cause organ dysfunction. The discussion about the optimal priming composition, however, is still controversial We investigated the effect of a hyperoncotic CPB-prime with hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 10% (200;0.5) on extravascular lung water (EVLW) and post-pump cardiac and pulmonary functions. Methods: In 20 randomized patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), a colloid prime (COP: 48 mmHg HES-group, n = 10) and a crystalloid prime (Ringer's lactate, crystalloid group, n = 10) of equal volume were compared with respect to the effects on cardiopulmonary function. Cardiac index (CI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI), alveolo-arterial oxygen difference (AaDO(2)), pulmonary shunt fraction (Q(s)/Q(T)), EVLW (double-indicator dilution technique with ice-cold indocyanine green), COP, fluid balance and body weight were evaluated peri-operatively. Results: Pre-operative demographic and clinical data, CPB-time,. crossclamp time and the number of anastomoses were comparable for both groups. During CPB, COP was reduced by 20% in the HES-group (18.9 +/- 3.7 vs. 23.7 +/- 2.2 mmHg, P < 0.05) while it was reduced by more than 50% of the pre-CPB value (9.8 +/- 2.0 vs. 21.4 +/- 2.1 mmHg, P < 0.05) in the crystalloid group (P < 0.05 HES- vs. crystalloid group). Post-CPB EVLW was unchanged in the RES-group but it was elevated by 22% in the crystalloid group (P < 0.05 HES- vs. crystalloid group), CI was higher in the HES-group (3.4 +/- 0.3 vs. 2.7 +/- 0.5 l/min, P < 0.05). Fluid balance was less in the HES-group (813 +/- 619 vs. 2143 +/- 538, P < 0.05). Post-operative weight gain could be prevented in the HES-group but not in the crystalloid group (1.5 +/- 1.2 vs. -0.3 +/- 1.5, P < 0.05). No significant differences were seen for MAP, PAP, PCWP, SVRI, PVRI, AaDO(2) and (Q(s)/Q(T)) between the two groups at any time. Conclusions: Hyperoncotic CPB-prime using RES 10% improves CI and prevents EVLW accumulation in the early post-pump period, while pulmonary function is unchanged. This effect can be of benefit especially in patients with congestive heart failure. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.