Modulation of the inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass by dopexamine and epidural anesthesia

Background: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) induces a systemic inflammatory reaction. Microcirculation-dependent alteration of the gut mucosal barrier with subsequent translocation of endotoxins is a postulated mechanism for this inflammatory response. This study was designed to elucidate whether two different approaches to modulate splanchnic perfusion may influence systemic inflammation to CPB. Methods: We examined 40 patients scheduled for elective coronary bypass surgery in a prospective, randomized study. One group (DPX) received dopexamine (1 mug.kg(-1).min(-1)) continuously after induction of anesthesia until 18 h after CPB. The control group (CON) received equal volumes of NaCl 0.9% in a time-matched fashion. In a third group (EPI) a continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine 0.25% [( body height (cm) - 100).10(-3)=ml.h(-1)] was administered for the whole study period. Procalcitonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), soluble TNF receptor, human soluble intercellular adhesion molecule- 1, C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocyte count were measured as parameters of inflammation. Results: All parameters significantly increased following CPB. Increases of PCT, TNF-alpha and leukocyte count were significantly attenuated in the DPX and EPI groups at different time points. However, neither splanchnic blood flow nor oxygen delivery and consumption were different when compared with the CON-group. Conclusion: These results do suggest that mechanisms other than an improved splanchnic blood flow by DPX and EPI treatment have to be considered for the anti-inflammatory effects.