Transaminase Values Following Open-Heart Surgery *

Abstract

Serial SGOT levels have been obtained on a group of 85 patients. Total body per-fusion and intracardiac repair was employed in 80, while the remaining five, acting as a control group, underwent general thoracic procedures. Transaminase values have been correlated with induced cardiac arrest, type of operation, duration and rate of perfusion, age and postoperative course. The study indicates that the chief factor associated with marked SGOT elevation is potassium-induced cardiac arrest. Compared with nonarrested cases, its use doubled or tripled transaminase levels in all types of open-heart operations.