Cardioprotective effect of perfluorochemical emulsion for cardiac preservation after six-hour cold storage

Perfluoro-octyl bromide (PFOB) emulsion is capable of transferring oxygen to tissues even at 4 degrees C, suggesting an application in myocardial preservation. We evaluated the cardioprotective effect of PFOB emulsion added to the storage solution. Guinea pig hearts were isolated (n = 24) and perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution (KHS) and then cooled and perfused with St. Thomas Hospital II solution (STS). The hearts were stored in three different solutions: STS (STS group), oxygenated (O2) STS (O2 STS group), and O2 STS with PFOB emulsion (30%) (O2 STS + PFOB group) for 6 hours at 4 degrees C. After storage, rewarming was performed, followed by reperfusion with KHS. Left ventricular developed pressure of O2 STS + PFOB group was significantly higher than that of the other groups during reperfusion (p < 0.01). There was no difference among the three groups in O2 extraction and cardiac efficiency; however, cardiac oxygen consumption in the O2 STS + PFOB group significantly improved during reperfusion. In the O2 STS + PFOB group, creatinine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and myocardial water content were significantly decreased (p < 0.01). This study suggests that PFOB emulsion is beneficial for the cardioprotection of donor hearts, allowing a prolonged cardiac storage time.