Retrograde Coronary Sinus Perfusion of Cold Cardioplegic Solutions in the Presence of Coronary Arterial Occlusions. Experimental Study

Abstract

Coronary arterial stenoses impose a constraint on the delivery of cold cardioplegic solutions conventionally perfused via the aortic root, resulting in uneven myocardial cooling and protection. Therefore the hearts undergoing coronary bypass operations show impaired cooling of the post-occlusive myocardial regions, and temperature gradients among different myocardial fields are registered after cold cardioplegic perfusion. We applied retrograde coronary sinus perfusion of cold cardioplegic solution in canine hearts with occluded multiple left coronary arterial branches to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks, and a uniform left ventricular cooling was demonstrated by this technique.

Myocardial Protection by Retrograde Cardioplegic Perfusion in the Presence of Acute Coronary Artery Obstruction: An Experimental Study

“…Similar findings were reported from previous studies in vitro (17,20) or in vivo using thermovision to observe the distribution in myocardial areas depending on obstructed coronary arteries (1 9). Similar findings were reported from previous studies in vitro (17,20) or in vivo using thermovision to observe the distribution in myocardial areas depending on obstructed coronary arteries (1 9).…”

“…However, the extensive network of the myocardial venous system makes retrograde perfusion an efficient means of core-cooling without regional gradients in areas whose supplying coronary artery is occluded (10,14,16,17,19,21,22). However, the extensive network of the myocardial venous system makes retrograde perfusion an efficient means of core-cooling without regional gradients in areas whose supplying coronary artery is occluded (10,14,16,17,19,21,22).…”