The Determination of the Effect of Volatile Anesthetics on Leukocyte Function ex Vivo

One of the most common side effects of a surgical procedure is infection. In order to lower
the number of infections that occur after surgery, it is important for physicians to know
how medications used during surgery affect the way the body fights infection. Often, when
anesthesiologists are helping people go to sleep before surgery they give people medications
known as "volatile anesthetics". Volatile anesthetics are medications that can change from a
liquid or solid to a gas very easily. Some studies suggest that these types of medications
may change the way white blood cells work in the body. Changing the way white blood cells
work could possibly increase the person's risk of infection after their surgery or weaken
their body's ability to fight infections. The goal of this research study is to learn about
how volatile anesthesia medications change the way white blood cells work in people having
anesthesia for cardiac procedures. To do this, investigators will examine the function of
while blood cells in the laboratory based setting.