Postoperative serum amylases of patients undergoing cardiac surgery

: Serum amylase was studied in twenty seven patients submitted to cardiac operation. The ages ranged between 16 and 74 (mean 55) years; twenty one (78) were male and six (22%) female. Myocardial revascularization was carried on in 17 patients, mitral valve replacement in four patients, aortic valve replacement in two patients, plastic surgery of the aortic valve in two patients, plastic surgery of the mitral valve in one patient. Blalock Taussig anastomosis was carried on in one patient. The serum amylase was determined in samples obtained before operations, 24 hours and 48 hours postoperatively. Seven (26%) patients showed postoperative elevation of seric amylase in the absence of clinical signs of pancreatitis. Thus, postoperative elevation of seric amylase after cardiac surgery may occur in the absence of pancreatitis and may be due to other factors associated with the patient, with the operative procedure, with drugs used and with surgical complications.