Oxidative injury and antioxidants in coronary artery bypass graft surgery: Off-pump CABG significantly reduces oxidative stress

BackgroundCoronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can now be performed with or without cardiopulmonary bypass. The former entails global ischemia followed by reperfusion after declamping, whereas the latter does not. In view of growing evidence that reperfusion is associated with oxidative stress, we studied the extent of oxidative stress and antioxidant status in patients undergoing on-pump and off-pump CABG to determine whether the latter significantly reduces oxidative stress.MethodsThirty patients were initially enrolled for the study. The inclusion criteria included patients with atherosclerotic triple vessel disease, undergoing elective CABG, with good LV function, no major risk factors for surgery, with all biochemical investigations within normal limits, having stable angina and no history of previous infarct. Patients with valvular heart disease, ventricular aneurysm, heart failure and poor left ventricular function were excluded. These were alternately posted for on-pump and off-pump CABG. Eight patients were excluded as they developed unforeseen complications during the surgery. Out of the remaining 22 patients, 13 underwent off-pump CABG and 9 underwent on-pump CABG. Five blood samples were collected; baseline, 5, 15, 60 min and 24 h after reperfusion. Samples were analyzed for thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), glutathione (G-SH) and catalase (CAT). The results were compared with their preanaesthetic levels in both the groups and also with 20 age- and sex-matched normal healthy individuals.ResultsLipid peroxidation was significantly increased after reperfusion in patients undergoing on-pump CABG, maximum increase (p < 0.0001) was seen 1 h after reperfusion, whereas off-pump CABG reduces oxidative stress. The G-SH levels were significantly decreased after reperfusion in on-pump and off-pump CABG patients, maximum decrease (p < 0.0001) was seen 5 min after reperfusion in on-pump CABG. The catalase activity was significantly increased after reperfusion in on-pump and off-pump CABG patients, maximum increase (p < 0.0001) was seen 1 h after reperfusion in on-pump CABG.ConclusionSignificant increase in oxidative stress was seen in patients undergoing on-pump CABG, whereas oxidative stress was less in off-pump CABG patients. The G-SH levels were decreased and Catalase activity was increased significantly in both on-pump and off-pump CABG patients.