Methylprednisolone in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (SIRS): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial [1]
In this RCT, patients at increased risk for cardiac surgery requiring CPB were assigned to steroids at the time of anesthetic induction and again at the time of CPB induction or no steroids. Primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and major morbidity. Steriods had no effect on the primary outcomes. There was no evidence that steroids increased the risk of other complications, particularly infection, surgical site infection, and delirium.