Increased fibrinolytic activity during surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass

: We studied blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in 19 patients during surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). CPB was performed with a rotating pump and a membrane oxygenator. Heparinization was achieved with heparin 3 mg.kg-1 and the ACT value was kept above 400 seconds throughout the CPB. Heparin was neutralized by protamine at a ratio of 1:1-1.5 of the total amount of heparin. Blood was collected four times from an indwelling arterial line. We obtained the first sample immediately after induction of anesthesia, the second sample before heparinization, the third sample before protamine administration, and the fourth sample at the end of the operation. FPA, FPB beta 15-42, alpha 2PI-Pl-C, D-dimer, and the t-PA activity were measured. A statistically significant elevation of FPA was observed during the operation. FPB beta 15-42, alpha 2PI-Pl-C, and the D-dimer rose significantly immediately after the beginning of the CPB and these elevations continued until the end of the operation. The t-PA activity was elevated significantly only during the CPB. In conclusion, the t-PA is released from the endothelial cells during CPB by some undetermined mechanism (primary fibrinolysis). Then, plasmin is generated by the t-PA and this dissolves the fibrin clots formed by thrombin before the beginning of the CPB (secondary fibrinolysis). Enhanced fibrinolytic activity before and after the CPB is physiological secondary fibrinolysis.