Serum and urinary amylase levels following pulsatile and continuous cardiopulmonary bypass.

The incidence of elevated serum and urine amylase values was examined in a prospective clinical study of patients subjected to either continuous or pulsatile extracorporeal perfusion. Mean postoperative values for urine and serum amylase were higher in the continuous group, and the incidence of abnormal values was also greater in the continuous group (70 percent versus 32 percent, p less than 0.01). Clinical pancreatitis was absent in both groups. This study documents a high incidence of elevated amylase values following bypass with either modality and provides evidence for possible improved visceral circulation with pulsatile extracorporeal bypass during routine cardiac operations.