Release of interleukin 6 and activation of complement during and after paediatric cardiopulmonary bypass. Effect of autotransfusion of shed mediastinal blood and ultrafiltration.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the complement activation products C3bc and terminal complement complex (TCC) were measured in three groups of children undergoing open heart surgery. One group was treated with intraoperative extracorporeal ultrafiltration and postoperative autotransfusion of shed mediastinal blood, one group was subjected to autotransfusion only and in one group none of these procedures were performed. No differences between the groups were observed concerning the degree of complement activation. Peak and total accumulated level of IL-6 was significantly higher in the group subjected to ultrafiltration and autotransfusion compared to the group treated conventionally with no interventions. IL-6 may be a sensitive marker of maneuvres increasing the inflammatory load during and after open heart surgery in children.