[Comparison of the effectiveness of crystalloid and warm blood cardioplegia in patients with significant left ventricular dysfunction].

UNLABELLED

In a group of 84 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery and with the ejection fraction lower than 40% two types of myocardial protection were studied. Group I (41 cases) was given intermittent cold crystalloid cardioplegia and group II (43 patients) was given intermittent warm blood cardioplegia followed by normothermic reperfusion. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data were retrospectively collected. There were no differences between the two groups except more rhythm disturbances in group I and higher incidence of neurological complications in group II.

CONCLUSIONS

Warm blood cardioplegia is an effective, cheap and practical myocardial protection technique.