The effect of Celsior solution on 12-hour cardiac preservation in comparison with University of Wisconsin solution

Celsior is a new extracellular-type preservation solution which has been developed to act not only as a storage medium but also as a perfusion fluid during initial donor heart arrest, poststorage graft reimplantation and early reperfusion. We designed this experimental study to evaluate the effect of the Celsior solution in comparison with the University of Wisconsin solution from the viewpoint of energy depletion.

Adult mongrel dogs weighing 9 to 13 kg were divided into two groups. In the UW group (n=7), a 4 degrees C University of Wisconsin solution was used for coronary vascular washout and storage following cardiac arrest using a glucose-insulin-potassium solution. In the Celsior group (n=7), the Celsior solution was used to obtain cardiac arrest, coronary vascular washout and storage. High energy phosphate levels and myocardial pH were measured using (31)P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy immediately after preservation and at 3, 6 and 12 hours after preservation. After 12-hour cold storage, left ventricular free wall tissues were harvested for histological examination.

High energy phosphate levels and myocardial pH were significantly better preserved in the Celsior group than in the UW group. In the histological findings, glycogen granules were preserved well in the Celsior group.

We conclude from our study that the Celsior solution is comparable to the University of Wisconsin solution for use in 12-hour heart preservation in canine models.