Effects of oxygenated cardioplegic solutions on myocardial aerobic metabolism

Oxygenated cardioplegic solutions can deliver sufficient oxygen to support aerobic metabolism of heart tissue during cardiac arrest, but little is known about oxygen use after cardioplegic solution infusion. Exhaustion of myocardial oxygen stores after infusion of oxygenated crystalloid cardioplegic solution or Krebs-Henseleit buffer was measured in rat hearts. Since nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide accumulates when mitochondria become anaerobic, the epicardium was monitored during perfusion and ischemia. As ischemia progressed, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide fluorescence increased, indicating exhaustion of oxygen. After buffer perfusion, at 37 degrees C, 50% of peak fluorescence was seen at 13 +/- 1 seconds and 90% at 37 +/- 3 seconds. Oxygenated cardioplegic solution increased these intervals to 57 +/- 6 and 114 +/- 9 seconds, respectively. Oxygenated cardioplegic solution at 10 degrees C increased the time to 50% fluorescence to 238 +/- 12 seconds and to 90% to 320 +/- 14 seconds. Differences between buffer and cardioplegic solution were less at 10 degrees C. Aerobic metabolism was completely abolished 6 minutes after infusion of 10 degrees C oxygenated cardioplegic solution. Maintenance of continuous aerobic metabolism during surgical cardiac arrest would require frequent administration of oxygenated crystalloid cardioplegic solution.