Backgrounds: Cardiac troponinis is a specific marker of myocardial injury, more spesific and sensitive than creatine kinase (CK). It has been suggested that troponin I specifity to detect myocardial injury may be greater than that of troponin T.

Methods: Between september 2001- march 2002, in two hundred fifty patients, indicated for CABG troponin levels were measured. Troponin I in 125 patients, troponin T in 125 patients at 24 hours after CABG, CK and CK-MB in all patients at 6 and 24 hours were studied. After operation and at postoperative 24 hours, ECG were evaluated. ST-T segment changes, R progression, LBBB, RBBB, AF were enrolled.

Results: Troponin I level was 18.52 ± 73.95 and troponin T level was 0.32 ± 0.029. Diagnosis of perioperative myocardial infarction was established in 3 patients from troponin I group and mean troponin I was 283.95 ± 377.66. There was one patient with perioperative MI in troponin T group and troponinT was over 2 ng/mL. When the patients with ST segment changes, new Q waves, LBBB, RBBB, AF, aneurysmectomy and endarterectomy were excluded, troponin I level was 6.48 ± 9.38 (0.37-63.7) and troponin T level 0.24 ± 0.21 (0.01-1.4).

Conclusions: Serum troponin levels are very important parameters to determine the myocardial injury. Troponin I over 6 and troponin T over 0.20 must sign the myocardial protection or surgical problems.

Keywords : coronary bypass, troponin , myocardial infarction