Resistance and reactance in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different surgical variables, such as perfusion duration and number of grafts, on resistance and reactance, in heart surgery patients. METHODS 77 patients submitted to coronary artery bypass were studied. The variable concerning time of extracorporeal circulation was classified in four progressive degrees. Resistance and reactance measurements were performed and compared to time of extracorporeal circulation and to number of grafts. Ten measurements were performed by bioelectrical impedance equipment. RESULTS The comparison of reactance before surgery to the first measurement at the first postoperative day, for the different times of extracorporeal circulation, showed decrease (p = 0.01). Regarding gender, resistance and reactance showed significant differences (p < 0.001). There was also significant difference (p = 0.001) for the number of grafts. CONCLUSION The decrease of resistance and reactance is related not only with surgery procedure, but also with the number of grafts and time of extracorporeal circulation.