Platelet Activation Markers in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

This research is being done because we would like to learn more about platelet dysfunction in children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass.

It has been an established fact that cardiopulmonary bypass causes dysfunction in platelets. Activation of platelets during cardiopulmonary bypass is implicated as being a major factor in causing platelet dysfunction.

For all participants, approximately 3.15 ml of blood will be collected in special tubes called CTAD tubes, before and after cardiopulmonary bypass (6.30ml in total). This amount of blood draw is well within the guidelines of NIH (National Institute of Health).

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) will be performed using this plasma to make quantitative assessment of Platelet factor 4 and Transforming growth factor beta.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients scheduled to have surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass for congenital cardiac abnormalities.
• Age: Newborn to 7 years
• Gender: male and female

Exclusion criteria

• Emergency surgery
• Weight less than 3 kg
• Age greater than 7 years
• Patients with low platelet counts (<100,000)
• Patients on medications that are known to interfere with platelet function such as prostacyclins, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, plavix.

Patients whose parents not willing to give consent