Scavenging of cardioplegic solution from right heart to prevent hyperkalemia.

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that hyperkalemia can be prevented if the cardioplegic solution returning to the right heart from the coronary sinus is aspirated. In the control group (15 patients without aspiration), the potassium concentration rose from 3.5 +/- 1 (SD) mEq/L to 6.3 +/- 0.4 mEq/L (p less than 0.001) 10 minutes after the administration of cardioplegic solution and was still high before the patient was weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass (5.2 +/- 0.3 mEq/L (p less than 0.001). Electromechanical recovery time was delayed. In the second group (15 patients with aspiration), serum potassium did not change. Our data indicate that scavenging of cardioplegic solution may prevent hyperkalemia in most patients.