[Artificial perfusion-free hypothermia in non-inhalation anesthesia]

Gas exchange and hemodynamic parameters have been determined in the intraoperative and earliest postoperative periods in 146 patients with congenital heart valve defects operated on in conditions of perfusion-free hypothermia and non-inhalation anesthesia with long-term exclusion of the heart from circulation. It has been found that the use of profound central analgesia with fentanyl for hypothermia maintenance is accompanied by favourable and adequate hemodynamic and gas exchange changes in accordance with metabolic demands of the body during cooling and warming. This allows the use of central analgesia for the maintenance of prolonged heart exclusion from circulation with minimal complications in perfusion-free hypothermic protection.