Abstract

Objective: Cardiac troponin T is more specific and sensitive marker for myocardial injury than MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase. We studied the prognostic value and cardiac risks after than coronary artery bypass grafting, measuring of the preoperative, perioperative and postoperative serum levels of the cardiac troponin T in this study.

Patients: We studied with 25 patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting (Group I) and 15 patients underwent noncardiac surgery (as a control group) (Group II). Blood samples were collected before the induction of anesthesia, during the cardiopulmonary bypass, 1st, 2nd hours of operation, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th days after the operation.

Results: Serum levels of MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, glutamic, oxalacetic transaminases and glutamic pyruvic transaminases in the both groups showed unimportant increase according to preoperative levels (p > 0.05), while cardiac troponin T values increased only in cardiopulmonary bypass group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Preoperative cardiac troponin T stratification before coronary artery bypass grafting identifies a subgroup of patients with increased risk of postoperative cardiac complications. Also, the measurement of perioperative and postoperative cardiac troponin T levels may be a useful method for comparing different myocardial protection techniques.