Optimal flow rates for retrograde warm cardioplegia.

Retrograde delivery of warm blood cardioplegia may improve nutrient cardioplegic flow beyond coronary obstructions, but may not adequately perfuse the right ventricle and the posterior left ventricle. To determine the optimal flow rate for warm retrograde cardioplegia, we assessed 62 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass in two studies. In the low flow study, administration of 50 ml/min (n = 9), 75 ml/min (n = 11), or 100 ml/min (n = 7) was associated with high lactate production and oxygen extraction during cardioplegic administration. At 50 minutes of cardioplegic arrest, the coronary venous effluent pH was low in all groups. In the high flow study, 30 patients all received flow rates of 100, 200, and 300 ml/min in randomized order during the crossclamp period. In addition, five patients received cardioplegia at a rate of 500 ml/min for the duration of the crossclamp period. Administration of 200 ml/min or higher minimized lactate production and maintained coronary venous pH within the physiologic range, but flows of 300 ml/min or higher did not increase oxygen use or reduce lactate or acid production. Patients in the low flow groups had significantly greater myocardial lactate release during cardioplegic infusion and after removal of the crossclamp than the high flow group. Warm retrograde cardioplegia should be delivered at flow rates of at least 200 ml/min during elective coronary artery bypass operations.