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IntroductionSt. Thomas’ cardioplegic solution No. 2 (ST), although most widely used in adult cardiac surgery, needs to be given at short intervals, causing additional myocardial injury.AimTo determine whether del Nido (DN) cardioplegia, with longer periods of arrest, provides equivalent myocardial protection as compared to ST.Material and methodsThe study population comprised 100 patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or double valve replacement (DVR) surgery between January 2015 and January 2016. The patients were divided into two groups based on the type of cardioplegia administered during surgery: 1) intermittent ST (ST, n = 50) and 2) DN cardioplegia (DN, n = 50). We compared the aortic cross clamp (CC) and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) times, number of intra-operative DC shocks required, and postoperative changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the two groups.ResultsThe aortic cross clamp and bypass times were shorter with DN (110.15 ±36.84 vs. 133.56 ±35.66 and 158.60 ±39.92 vs. 179.81 ±42.36 min respectively, p < 0.05). Fewer cardioplegia doses were required in the DN group vs. the ST group (1.38 ±0.59 vs. 4.15 ±1.26; p = 0.001), while a single cardioplegia dose was given to 35 DN patients (70%) vs. 0 ST patients (p < 0.001). Postoperative LVEF was better preserved in the DN group.ConclusionsThe use of DN leads to shorter cross clamp and CPB times, reduces cardioplegia dosage, and provides potentially better myocardial protection in terms of LVEF preservation, with a safety profile comparable to ST cardioplegia.

ObjectiveCardiac surgical operations involving extracorporeal circulation may develop severe inflammatory response. This severe inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is usually associated with poor outcome with no predictive marker. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a routine hematological marker with a role in inflammation. We aim to determine the relationship between RDW and SIRS through our study.MethodsA total of 1250 patients who underwent cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation were retrospectively analyzed out of which 26 fell into the SIRS criteria and 26 consecutive control patients were taken. RDW, preoperative clinical data, operative time and postoperative data were compared between SIRS and control groups.ResultsThe demographic profile of the patients was similar. RDW was significantly higher in the SIRS versus control group (15.5±2.0 vs. 13.03±1.90), respectively with P value <0.0001. There was significant mortality in the SIRS group, 20 (76.92%) as compared to 2 (7.6%) in control group with a P value of <0.005. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that there was significant association with high RDW and development of SIRS after extracorporeal circulation (OR for RDW levels exceeding 13.5%; 95% CI 1.0-1.2; P<0.05).ConclusionIncreased RDW was significantly associated with increased risk of SIRS after extracorporeal circulation. Thus, RDW can act as a useful tool to predict SIRS in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation. Hence, more aggressive measures can be taken in patients with high RDW to prevent postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Introduction: Double chambered ventricle is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly, where the ventricular chamber is wholly or partially partitioned usually by abnormal muscular ridges. Double chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is more common than double chambered left ventricle (DCLV). Methods: A retrospective observational morphological study of 31 autopsied hearts during a 16-year period highlighted the varied clinical presentations of this pathology and the associated per-operative problems.Results: DCRV was found to exist not only with simple cardiac pathologies such as ventricular septal defect and tetralogy of Fallot, but also more complex pathologies such as transposition of great arteries, double outlet right ventricle, left atrial isomerism, and Ebsteins anomaly of tricuspid valve. Double chambered left ventricle in our series was an associated asymptomatic anomaly. Conclusions: Closure of the ventricular septal defect may result in isolated DCRV causing proximal right ventricular (RV) hypertension. Postoperative RV dysfunction may compound the ill effects of missed DCRV, RV hypertension and pulmonary hypertension, if any. Double chambered left ventricle may present as an associated asymptomatic anomaly. (Ind J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007; 23: 135-140)

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