Type of cardioplegic solution as a factor influencing the clinical outcome of open-heart congenital procedures

Abstract

IntroductionCardioplegia is one of the most important modalities of myocardial protection during heart surgery.AimTo assess the impact of blood cardioplegia on postoperative variables, in comparison with two types of crystalloid cardioplegic solutions during pediatric heart surgery.Material and methodsOne thousand one hundred and twenty-nine patients underwent surgical correction of congenital heart disease with cardioplegia administration between 2006 and 2012. Nonlinear regression models of postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) incidence, catecholamine index and total complication count were developed using a genetic algorithm. The Akaike information criterion was applied for selection of the best model. The following explanatory variables were evaluated: cardioplegia type (ST – Saint Thomas, n = 440; FR – Fresenius, n = 432; BL – Calafiore, n = 257), congenital heart diseases (CHD) type, age, sex, genetic disorder presence, body surface area (BSA), cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP) time, aortic cross-clamp time, operation urgency, redo surgery, surgeon.ResultsLow cardiac output syndrome presence and higher than average catecholamine indexes were negatively influenced by use of crystalloid cardioplegia (ST or FR), presence of specific CHDs, redo surgery and prolonged CBP time. Increased complication count was related to: crystalloid cardioplegia, presence of specific CHDs, redo surgery, urgency of operation, operation time and CBP time. Higher BSA had a protective effect against higher catecholamine index and increased complication count. Older age was protective against LCOS.ConclusionsCardioplegic solutions type influences postoperative variables in children after heart surgery by the negative impact of crystalloid cardioplegia. Blood cardioplegia presents potential advantages for patients – its application may reduce the incidence of low cardiac output syndrome and related complications.

Intermittent Antegrade Warm Blood Cardioplegia: What Is Next?

“…The surgeon can choose the best way to deliver CPL, the [K þ ], the ischemic interval and when to repeat boluses of K þ or Mg þþ . The efficacy of the protocol has been again recently validated, [15][16][17] even in a pediatric population, 18 and we think that these modifications will enhance the safety and the effectiveness of a method of myocardial protection, which is still valid after 26 years of its first application.…”

Changes of biventricular function after CABG surgery: does cardioplegia type matter?

“…Potential advantages of this cardioplegia type are relatively low price and simplicity of use. 3,5,6 In comparison with crystalloid cardioplegia, blood cardioplegia is more beneficial in terms of superior buffering and oxygen-carrying capacity, oxidative stress minimizing and protection against myocardial oedema. Therefore, it is considered that the use of blood cardioplegia more closely approaches normal myocardial metabolism physiology.…”