Methods: In the study, group 1 (n=15) administered a leukocyte filter connected to arterial line after the oxygenator during CPB, while group 2 (n=15) was the control group. The patients were thoroughly assessed with respect to age, sex, congenital heart disease, total CPB duration, aortic cross-clamp duration, duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, total amount of chest drainage in 24 hour, inotropic drug use, total amount of transfused blood, and postoperative complications. Blood samples for elastase and complement (C5a) were obtained after induction and before sternotomy incision, prior to CPB, after protamine injection, at postoperative first hour in ICU, and at postoperative 24^th hour. Blood samples for complete blood count, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine phosphokinase MB (CKMB), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine level were taken preoperatively and at one and 24 hours postoperatively.

Results: The duration of hospital stay was longer in group 2 than group 1 (6.5±1.8 vs. 2: 9.7±5.1 days, respectively, p=0.015). C5a values increased in both groups during the third, fourth, and fifth period indicating no statistically significant differences (0.5±0.2 vs. 0.6±0.2; p=0.361 and 0.4±0.1 vs. 0.4±0.0; p=0.144 and 2.1±6.6 vs. 0.4±0.1; p=0.298, respectively). Subgroup analyses for ALT, AST, CKMB and leucocyte count revealed significant difference between the groups (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Although effects of systemic inflammation associated with CPB were statistically significantly different in both groups, no statistically significant difference was found between the group in which leucocyte filter was used to reduce these effects and the controls.