Significance of Oxidants and Inflammatory Mediators in Blood of Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

摘要

The combined action of these factors results in a complex immunologic reaction (Figs 1 and 2) propagated by blood leukocytes culminating with the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and arachidonic acid metabolites, endothelins, platelet-activating factors, proinflammatory cytokines, and en-dothelial and leukocyte adhesion molecules into circulation.3'4 The clinical manifestation of this reaction is believed to include prolonged in-hospital stay and postoperative complications such as wound infections, respiratory failure, and myocardial damage causing cardiac contractile dysfunction and even heart failure, renal impairment, coagulopathy, neurologic dysfunction, altered liver function, and even increased mortality.