Objective: to measure the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 serum levels at baseline and after cardiopulmonary bypass exposure in infants undergoing surgery of congenital heart disease. Methods: contemporary cohort study, which consisted of 21 infants undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The intercellular adhesion molecule-1 serum levels were measured at induction of anesthesia, at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass, and 8 hours and 26 hours after cardiopulmonary bypass. The samples were measured using ELISA. Results: atrioventricular septal defects and tetralogy of Fallot were the most common congenital cardiac pathologies. The age and weight mean values were 6.6 months and 5.8 Kg. The median values of cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamping time were 87 minutes and 53 minutes. All infants used inotropic drugs. The median values of intubation time and length of stay were 72 hours and 21 days. The patients’ mortality rate was 9.5%. The baseline levels of the molecule were higher than the normal values (P<0.0001). The levels of the molecule significantly decreased at the end of the cardiopulmonary bypass (P<0.001), significantly increasing 8 hours after that period (P<0.005), without reaching baseline values 26 hours after that. Conclusions: the soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 baseline serum level is higher than normal in infants presenting congenital cardiac defects. This molecule serum levels vary after cardiopulmonary bypass exposure, presenting a characteristic behavior in these patients.
Adhesion molecules; cardiopulmonary bypass; cardiac surgery; infants
