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Mild ventricular dysfunction following cold potassium cardioplegia
Insights
Cold potassium cardioplegic arrest up to 70 minutes showed no negative impact on heart function after myocardial revascularization. Longer arrest times, however, were linked to mild decreases in ejection fraction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Myocardial revascularization aims to restore blood flow to the heart muscle.
- Cardioplegic arrest is used to stop the heart temporarily during surgery.
- Assessing the long-term effects of cold potassium cardioplegia on cardiac function is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term effects of cold potassium cardioplegic arrest on myocardial function.
- To compare preoperative and postoperative cardiac performance metrics.
Main Methods:
- Studied 40 patients undergoing myocardial revascularization.
- Compared resting ejection fraction (EF), end-diastolic volume (EDV), and segmental wall motion preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively.
- Utilized cardiac catheterization for assessments.
Main Results:
- Ejection fraction (EF) remained stable (60% pre-op vs. 62% post-op).
- End-diastolic volume (EDV) showed no significant change (151 cc pre-op vs. 137 cc post-op).
- Prolonged cardioplegic arrest (>70 minutes) was associated with a mild inverse relationship to EF change (r=-0.57, p<0.01).
Conclusions:
- Cold potassium cardioplegic arrest up to 70 minutes is safe for myocardial function.
- Extended cardioplegic arrest times may be associated with mild cardiac dysfunction.
- Graft patency was high, with 108/117 grafts visualized post-surgery.
Abstract:
The long-term effects of cold potassium cardioplegic arrest was examined in 40 patients who underwent myocardial revascularization. Comparisons between resting ejection fraction (EF), end diastolic volume (EDV), and segmental wall motion were made between the preoperative and postoperative catheterization (mean postoperative recatheterization, 6 months). A 2.93 graft per patient ratio was found in this group of patients, with 108/117 grafts visualized at the time of recatheterization. The EF was 60% +/- 3% before surgery and 62% +/- 3% after surgery. A correlation coefficient of 0.91 was determined for the entire series. The EDV was 151 +/- 16 cc before coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and was unchanged post CABG at an end diastolic volume of 137 +/- 15 cc. Analysis of preoperative wall motion of 33 patients demonstrated 111 depressed segments, 68 normal, and 52 hypercontractile; at recathetrization, there were 100 depressed, 66 normal, and 65 hypercontractile segments. Although there was essentially no deterioration of myocardial function for 37 out of 40 patients, three demonstrated a reduction in EF, the largest reduction being 15%. These three patients had a cardioplegic arrest time greater than 70 minutes. An inverse relationship between percent change in EF and the length of cardioplegic arrest was observed, with an r value o - 0.57 (p less than 0.01). These data suggest that prolonged cardioplegic arrest times may be associated with mild dysfunction. Cold potassium cardioplegic arrest up to 70 minutes was associated with no change in EF, EDV, or wall motion in this series of patients.