[Compensatory mechanisms of haemolysis after surgery with the heart-lung-maschine (author's transl)].

In 20 patients, suffering from various diseases, the extent of haemolysis and the correlation between the rate of haemolysis and various mechanisms of erythrocyte damage in the course of open heart surgery was studied. We investigated haemotological parameters, electrolytes, lactate dehydrogenase before, and 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after operation. Besides free haemoglobin, haptoglobin and haemopexin were determined 5 and 15 minutes after starting perfusior with the heart-lung machine and after finishing. The best index of haemolysis was free haemoglobin in the serum. With increasing duration of perfusion the rate of haemolysis increased. Compensating mechanisms were postoperative increase of haptoglobin and haemopexin.