Methyl prednisolone and lung function after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Thirty-one patients who were undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass for elective aortic valve replacement were studied. The effects on some aspects of lung function of intravenous methyl prednisolone, administered immediately before bypass, were assessed by measuring alveolar-arterial oxygen differences and shunt fractions. No significant differences in pulmonary function were found between the treated and control groups. The use of methyl prednisolone in this context is not justified.