Effects of infusion of cardiotomy suction blood during extracorporeal circulation for coronary artery bypass surgery

The effects of infusion of cardiotomy suction blood during extracorporeal circulation were evaluated in 15 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery without the use of a left ventricular vent. In group I all cardiotomy suction blood was discarded. In groups II and III cardiotomy suction blood was reinfused without and with Dacron wool filtration, respectively. Marked hematologic changes were noted in the pericardial samples which also were reflected in oxygenator samples obtained at the end of bypass. Although postoperative bleeding was significantly greater in patients from group II as compared to group I, no differences were seen in total intraoperative and postoperative transfusion requirements. No patient required reoperation for bleeding. Recirculation of larger volumes of cardiotomy suction blood potentially could contribute to bleeding problems in the immediate postoperative period.