Effects of Cardiopulmonary Bypass and Prostacyclin on Plasma Catecholamines, Angiotensin II and Arginine‐Vasopressin

Infusion of prostacyclin during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) reduces platelet activation, diminishes postoperative blood loss and decreases arterial blood pressure. In spite of continuous prostacyclin infusion, there is a delayed gradual rise in arterial pressure and resistance from low initial levels. We measured epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), angiotensin II (ATII) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) in plasma and carried out hemodynamic studies in 19 patients operated for coronary vascular disease. Eight patients served as a control group and were subjected to routine CPB. Eleven patients received prostacyclin 50 ng/kg/min during CPB. E and NE increased four- to sixfold during CPB from about 0.5 ng/ml (P <0.001). There was no difference between the groups. During CPB AVP increased sixfold from about 20 pg/ml in both groups (P <0.001), decreased early after CPB and increased again to high levels 3 h after CPB. The combined action of E, NE and AVP is of likely importance for the rise in systemic vascular resistance and/ or need of vasodilation during CPB in the control group. ATII did not increase in the control group, but increased fourfold to about 20 pg/ml (P <0.01) during CPB in the prostacyclin group. The addition of AT II to E, NE and AVP seems responsible for the gradual return of arterial pressure and resistance during prostacyclin infusion. Postoperative hypertension and/or need of vasodilation 3 h after CPB was associated with high AVP levels in both groups. Hypotension caused by prostacyclin infusion did not increase E, NE or AVP above levels produced by CPB and moderate hypotension alone.