The effects of using a leukocyte removal filter during cold blood cardioplegia.

During myocardial ischemia, neutrophils and platelets exert negative effects on the myocardium. In this study, we used a leukocyte removal filter during cardioplegia, and investigated its effect on myocardial damage during reperfusion by measuring the plasma levels of granulocyte components, platelet components, and cardiac enzymes [creatinine phosphokinase (CK) and creatinine phosphokinase myocardial band (CK-MB)] in 24 patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass. The patients were divided into two groups of 12 according to whether or not a filter was placed in the cardioplegic route. Blood samples were drawn directly from the coronary sinus before aortic cross clamping, and at 1, 5, and 15 min after declamping. Group F, which had the filter, showed better cardiac enzyme and lipid peroxidation results than group N, which did not. The results of this study suggest that the application of a filter during cold blood cardioplegia may reduce myocardial damage.