[Ultrastructural diagnosis of changes in the human myocardium during protection of the heart with cardioplegic solutions].

Results of qualitative and quantitative assessment of myocardial changes are presented based on examinations of 180 cardiobiopsy specimens taken from 58 patients with acquired heart diseases during open-heart surgery. For quantitative assessment of intracellular organelle changes a 6-score scale has been developed by means of which the time course of injury to the major cellular components was studied: before aortal clamping, at the height of ischemia, and during reperfusion. Basing on the integral assessment of structural changes it is possible to assess the severity of myocardial damage; such approach is valuable in the assessment of the efficacy of cardioplegic solutions in the clinical practice.