Relationship between inflammatory response induced by cardiopulmonary bypass and postoperative cognitive dysflmction

Objective To examine the relationship between inflammatory response induced by cardiopulmonary bypass and postoperative cognitive dysfunction.Methods Twenty-five patients undergoing elective cardiac valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass were randomly divided into two groups：ulinastatin group（group U,n=13） and control group（group C,n=12）.In group U,ulinastatin 12 000 U/kg Was given intravenously immediately after induction of anesthesia,6 000 U/kg ulinastatin Was added to the priming solution,and 6000 U/kg ulinastatin was given at 5 min before the aortic decamping.In group C,normal saline was given instead of ulinastatin.Venous blood samples were taken after induction of anesthesia,at the end of CPB,and 24 h after operation for determination of plasma IL-6 concentration and neutrophils NF-kB expression.The cognitive function of the patients was evaluated by Mini-Mental State Examination（MMSE） before and 3 d,7 d after operation.Results The concentraion of IL-6 and neutrophils NF-kB expression were lower in group U than in group C（P〈0.05 or 0.01）.There wag no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction between group C and U.Conclusion Inflammatory response induced by cardiopulmonary bypass is not related to postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Key words: Cardiopulmonary bypass;  Cognition disorders ;  Postoperative complications;  Inflammation