[The protection of the myocardium with a circulating cold solution during aortocoronary bypass operations].

Forty-three patients operated on under conditions of aortocoronary bypass were examined. In 29 of them continuous circulation of cold solution in pericardial cavity was combined with antegrade cardioplegia. In 14 routine technique of external myocardial cooling with snow and antegrade crystalloid cardioplegia was employed. Intensive external cooling of the heard helped not only maintain a lower myocardial temperature but permitted also a reduction of temperature gradients between various myocardial sites. This was conducive to a better preservation of energy reserve and contractility of the myocardium.