Elevated catecholamines during cardiac surgery: Consequences of reperfusion of the postarrested heart

Abstract This study determines whether reperfusion of the heart with elevated blood levels of epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) during cardiac surgery produces deleterious effects. The study was conducted in 60 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Arterial catecholamine values increased significantly (p 2 and CK-MB revealed that during 10 minutes of reperfusion the heart extracted E (positive A-CS difference, p r = 0.4, p