Myocardial protection during open-heart surgery: preservation of myocardial metabolism and ultrastructure by cold coronary perfusion.

Myocardial protection by means of selective, continuous coronary perfusion with cold oxygenated blood of low flow rate and of low perfusion pressure is an excellent procedure both clinically and experimentally. This method should be particularly useful in poor-risk patients, for whom a maximal preservation of the myocardium is imperative.