OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to assess biochemical, hormonal and cellular 
repercussions from use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in coronary artery bypass 
graft (CABG) surgery.
METHODS: Eighteen patients underwent on-pump CABG surgery. Mean time of CPB was 
80.3 minutes. Hormonal, biochemical and cellular measurements were taken in some 
time points - preoperatively, immediately after coming off CPB, 24 and 48 hours 
postoperatively. Friedman and Wilcoxon tests were applied based on significance 
level of 5%.
RESULTS: There was activation and significant elevation of total leukocytes and 
neutrophils count over CPB, remaining this way up to 48 hours postoperatively. 
Total platelets count, in turn, was marked by relevant reduction immediately 
after coming off CPB as well as in two postoperative time points. Serum levels 
of total proteins and albumin, immediately after coming off CPB and also in two 
postoperative time points, were significantly decreased comparing with 
preoperative status. There was remarkable reduction of total T3, free T3 and 
total T4 particularly up to first 24 hours postoperatively.
CONCLUSION: In on-pump CABG surgery, inflammatory effects encompass activation 
of total leukocytes, neutrophils and platelets, reduction of serum level of 
total proteins and albumin and decreased thyroid hormones levels, especially 
within first postoperative 24 hours.