Background: In recent years, the use of del Nido cardioplegia, initially intended for paediatric cardiac surgery, has been extended to adult cardiac surgery in many institutions. Our aim was thus to compare the outcomes of the use of del Nido cardioplegia with that of conventional cardioplegia and discuss its role in both adult and paediatric cardiac surgery. Method: A systematic literature search was conducted in August 2019 on Medline (via PubMed), Embase and Cochrane electronic databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Any retrospective studies and randomised controlled trials that reported findings comparing the outcomes of the use of del Nido cardioplegia with that of St. Thomas cardioplegia were included. Results: We observed shorter aortic cross-clamp time (mean difference: −15.18, confidence interval: −27.21 to −3.15, p = 0.01) and cardiopulmonary bypass time (mean difference: −13.52, confidence interval: −20.64 to −6.39, p = 0.0002) associated with the use of del Nido cardioplegia in adult cardiac surgery as compared to St. Thomas cardioplegia. Defibrillation rates were significantly lower in patients who had been given del Nido cardioplegia, in both adult (relative risk: 0.28, confidence interval: 0.12 to 0.64, p = 0.003) and paediatric patients (relative risk: 0.25, confidence interval: 0.08 to 0.79, p = 0.02). Conclusion: Del Nido cardioplegia may be a viable alternative to the use of St. Thomas cardioplegia in both adult and paediatric patients, providing similar postoperative outcomes while also affording the additional advantage of shorter aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time (in adult cardiac surgery) and decreased rates of defibrillation (in both adult and paediatric cardiac surgery).

Background: Preparation of del-Nido cardioplegia and its delivery technique can cause significant hemodilution. The resultant effects from hemodilution are largely proportionate to the use of a dual circuit. We opted for a custom-disposable single cardioplegia circuit instead of a dual circuit. Methods: We describe an alternative technique of del-Nido cardioplegia delivery and initial clinical experience with it at National University Hospital, Singapore. This is a retrospective analysis of data from January 2017 to April 2019, comprising of 177 patients of heart surgery and reflecting a single center database survey under the National Health Care Group. Results: Of the 177 patients who underwent surgery with del-Nido cardioplegia, 76 (42.9%) were valve-only procedures and 5 (2.8%) were coronary artery bypass graft–only procedures. Ultrafiltration was utilized in 132 (62.6%) patients, whereas filtrate volume was 2200 [150-9500] mL. The alternative technique of del-Nido cardioplegia delivery adopted by National University Hospital advocates for a single pump, single circuit system. The retrospective institutional data highlighted safe delivery of del-Nido cardioplegia using this technique in a range of procedures. Conclusion: Besides the safe delivery of del-Nido cardioplegia, the National University Hospital Technique reduces hemodilution and provides other technical benefits including a steeper temperature gradient, modification of circuit configuration to deliver another cardioplegia while on bypass, as well as re-configuration of clamps to spike the base solution.