A comparison of blood and crystalloid cardioplegia during heart transplantation after 5 hours of cold storage.

Four methods of protecting the heart during implantation were compared. All hearts were arrested in situ by perfusing 4 degrees C cardioplegic solution into the aortic root and were stored by a nonperfused cold storage technique for 5 hours at 4 degrees C. The hearts were then transplanted orthotopically with the use of topical iced slush alone or with infusions of either blood cardioplegic solution or one of two crystalloid cardioplegic solutions after each atrial anastomosis. Five dog hearts were included in each group. Biopsy samples to test for adenylates were taken before the arrest, at the end of storage, before cross-clamp removal, and 3.5 hours after cross-clamp removal. The dogs were removed from cardiopulmonary bypass, and with the chest open, left ventricular function curves were measured at 1, 2, and 3 hours after cross-clamp removal. At 3.5 hours of reperfusion time, a full-width section was obtained from the left ventricle for measurement of tissue sodium and water content. No differences in tissue water, sodium, or potassium content were found among the groups. Left ventricular function was significantly better in the blood cardioplegia group than in any other groups. Adenosine triphosphate levels were significantly reduced 3.5 hours after reperfusion in the crystalloid cardioplegia groups but were not significantly depressed at any other measurement time. Excellent early graft function was observed after crystalloid cardioplegic arrest and blood cardioplegic reperfusion during graft implantation.