[Coronary revascularization with arterial graft alone by normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and warm blood cardioplegia].

We studied the effects of Calafiore technique that is intermittent (every 15 minutes) antegrade warm blood cardioplegia oxygenated and included high potassium solution with normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. From September 1994 to February 1995, 20 patients having continuously elective coronary artery bypass grafting with arterial conduits alone were randomized to traditional intermittent cold crystalloid cardioplegia and slight hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (cold group) or warm heart surgery by Calafiore technique (warm group). Preoperative variables were similar to both groups, as were the intraoperative variables of number of coronary grafts, aortic cross-clamp time, and cardiopulmonary bypass time. Warm group had more rapidly spontaneous defibrillation at cross-clamp removal than cold group. CK on one postoperative day was lower than cold group. Warm group had good results as concern postoperative blood loss volume, intubated time, and change of base excess. Events of PMI (cold, 2 and warm, 0) and need of an intraaortic balloon pump (cold, 2 and warm, 0) were significantly lower in the warm group. We suspected the possibility of vasospasm was lower in the warm group. We concluded warm heart surgery (Calafiore technique) was a best technique for CABG with arterial conduits.