Influence of pericardial suction blood retransfusion on memory function and release of protein S100B

Abstract

Background: To study the influence of pericardial suction blood (PSB) on postoperative memory disturbances and release patterns of protein S100B during and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods: Sixty male patients admitted for coronary artery bypass surgery were prospectively randomized to receive PSB either by using conventional cardiotomy suction retransfusion or after cell-saver processing. Results: The concentration of S100B rose during the period of CPB from 0.065±0.004 to 0.24±0.001 mg/L (p<0.001). PSB contained 18.0±1.7 mg/L of S100B. Direct retransfusion from the cardiotomy reservoir made the systemic level increase to 1.42±0.19 mg/L compared to 0.25±0.02 mg/L using a cell-saver. Signs of postoperative memory dysfunction (> 1 SD) were discovered in one of three tests, but were unrelated to technique of retransfusion. No associations were found between serum concentrations of S100B and memory function. Conclusion: In this study, retransfusion of PSB during cardiac surgery appeared not to cause memory disturbances. PSB contained high concentrations of protein S100B making its use as a marker of cerebral injury unsuitable.