Objective-To investigate the intraoperative release of troponin T during uncomplicated coronary artery surgery and to determine its relation to ischaemic time and to recovery of left ventricular function and oxidative metabolism. Design-A prospective observational study. Setting-Cardiac surgical unit in a tertiary referral centre. Methods-Troponin T, creatine kinase, and lactate were analysed from arterial and coronary sinus samples taken before operation, and 1, 4, 6, 10, 20, 35, and 45 minutes after cross clamp release. Net myocardial troponin T release and lactate extraction were derived from their respective arteriovenous diVerences. Haemodynamic measurements were made using a thermodilution pulmonary artery catheter. Patients-45 patients, mean (SD) age 62 (9) years, with two or three vessel coronary artery disease and chronic stable angina undergoing routine coronary artery surgery. Results-Before operation, troponin T concentrations were not raised, but within one minute of cross clamp release they increased progressively in both coronary sinus and arterial blood for the entire 45 minutes of reperfusion studied. Coronary sinus troponin T concentrations were consistently higher than arterial concentrations at all time points (p < 0. Conclusions-Troponin T concentrations increased in every patient after cross clamp release, and were consistently higher in coronary sinus blood than in arterial blood, indicating net myocardial release of troponin T during the period of reperfusion. Intraoperative net troponin T release has functional significance, as it is closely related to ischaemic time and reflects delayed recovery of left ventricular function and oxidative metabolism; therefore, its measurement may contribute to the perioperative assessment of myocardial injury sustained during coronary artery surgery. (Heart 1998;80:341-348)