Does the type of venous drainage or cardioplegia affect postoperative conduction and atrial arrhythmias?

Five consecutive patient groups undergoing coronary bypass surgery were studied for postoperative conduction disturbances and atrial arrhythmias. Group I (50 patients) had blood cardioplegic solution (25 meq/liter potassium) and unsnared venae cavae, group II (156 patients) had low-volume crystalloid cardioplegic solution (25 meq/liter potassium) and unsnared venae cavae, group III (56 patients) was similar to group II except that a single cavoatrial venous cannula was used instead of two separate cannulas, group IV (218 patients) had high-volume crystalloid cardioplegic solution (25 meq/liter potassium) and snared venae cavae, and group V (37 patients) was the same as group IV except that the cardioplegic solution contained 10 meq/liter potassium after the first dose, which contained 25 meq/liter. All postoperative electrocardiograms were analyzed for conduction disturbances and atrial arrhythmias. The results showed a significantly lower incidence of conduction disturbances in group I (12%) as compared with groups II to IV. In addition, groups IV and V (high-volume crystalloid cardioplegic solution) had a significantly higher incidence of conduction disturbances than groups II and III (lower-volume crystalloid solution) (55.0% and 62.1% vs 26.2% and 35.1%, respectively). The majority of these disturbances were temporary. Group I also had the lowest incidence of postoperative atrial arrhythmias (3.8%). There was no significant difference between the groups receiving high- and low-volume crystalloid solution. It is concluded that blood cardioplegic solution affords the best protection against postoperative conduction disturbances and atrial arrhythmias. High-volume crystalloid cardioplegic solution affords the least protection against conduction disturbances but has no effect on atrial arrhythmias.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)