The clinical value of cardiac Troponin T (cTnT) as a marker in assessing myocardial cell damage in the patients undergoing open heart surgery was studied. Serum cTnT and CK-MB levels were measured in serial blood samples from 20 patients undergoing open heart surgery before operation, at aorta clamping, aorta opening, the end of CPB and the operation, and subsequently one h, one day, 3 days and one week after operation respectively. Ten patients receiving thoracic surgery were also subjected to the measurement of cTnT and CK-MB before and 24 h after operation. The results showed that peak concentrations were reached earlier in cTnT than in CK-MB, and the circulation cTnT remained high when CK-MB had already decreased to normal. In 10 patients receiving thoracic surgery, cTnT level was normal and CK-MB was increased in 4 patients after surgery. It was concluded that the sensitivity and specificity of cTnT was more than those of CK-MB and cTnT could be used as a routine indicator for myocardiac protection.