Hypothermic coronary perfusion for intraoperative cardioplegia.

Hypothermic asanguineous perfusion has been used to arrest 170 hearts at the beginning of 1/2 to 2 hours of intraoperative coronary ischemia. This method of producing cardioplegia has facilitated valve replacement and coronary artery bypass operations. Inadequate myocardial protection has not been experienced since we began using this method of arresting the heart for cardiac operations.