Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress Related to Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Majority of operations in cardiac surgery necessitate theapplying of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) which is known to causecomplex cascades of particularly unknown physiological processes.Activation of acute inflammatory response is the most important andversatile effect of CPB. Majority of therapeutic measures failed toimprove clinical and even experimental outcomes. Better therapeuticstrategiesare based only on solid understanding of mechanismsinvolved in CPB-mediated inflammatory cascade. The aim of thethesis was to investigate clinical, pathophysiological andbiochemical aspects of inflammatory response associated with CPB.In the present thesis it was aimed to compare the complications,adverse outcomes occur following coronary surgery with or withoutCPB. It has also been clarified that patients undergoing open-heartoperation develop an extensive and prolonged pro-inflammatoryresponse, which is not counterbalanced by anti-inflammatorymediators at later period after surgery. Dominancy ofpro-inflammatory forces results in systematic oxidative injury,which together may blame for postoperative unwanted events,especially during the first weeks after surgery.