Cardiopulmonary bypass-assisted surgery initiates a systemic inflammatory response induced by extrinsic (e.g. anesthesia, contact activation within the extracorporeal circuit, endotoxemia) and intrinsic (e.g. tissue damage, endothelial cell activation, ischemia-reperfusion injury of myocardium) factors. This may either be mild or lead to a more severe clinical condition. Inflammation after pediatric open heart surgery is a parameter affecting also duration of mechanical ventilatory support. Dexmedetomidine use was associated with a reduced increase in plasma IL-1, IL-6, TNF-a, and INF-g levels