Use of Antegrade Coronary Oxygen Persufflation as a Strategy for Donor Heart Preservation

To assess the technical feasibility and functional, metabolic, and structural myocardial integrity of the donor heart after four hours of direct coronary oxygen persufflation (COP).

This research was carried out on three-month-old minipig siblings weighing 23-36 kg. Cardiac arrest was achieved by administrating two liters of Bretschneider's cardioplegic solution (histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate [HTK]) (Custodiol®, Germany) into the aortic root. Orthotopic heart transplantation was performed after three hours of cardiac arrest.

A statistically significant decrease in cardiac output was observed in both groups (from 3.36 ± 0.36 l/min and 3.72 ± 0.52 l/min in the HTK group and modified HTK + COP to 2.35 ± 0.52 l/min and 2.15 ± 0.34 l/min, respectively) (Р<0.05). Differences between both groups were insignificant (P>0.05). Cardiac output was 2.99 ± 0.45 l/min and 2.48 ± 0.58 l/min (Р>0.05) in both groups after 120 min of cardiac recovery. Lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase-MB, and troponin I changes in coronary sinus blood were significantly higher in the early reperfusion period. Statistical insignificance was observed between both groups (P>0.05). Myocardial oxygen consumption was 8.2 [7.35; 9.35] ml-О2/min/100 g and 7.7 [6.75; 10.12] ml-О2/min/100g in both groups (P>0.05). Histological examinations demonstrate no significant myocardial ischemic injury in the persufflation group.

The study demonstrated technical feasibility and safety of direct coronary persufflation for four hours during ex vivo donor heart conditioning. However, no significant advantages of direct COP were observed over the standard cold preservation protocol.