Combined application of metabolic myocardial arrest and general profound hypothermia in aortic valve replacement

To determine the value of general hypothermia in combination with magnesium-aspartate-procaine induced metabolic myocardial arrest, the surgical results of 2 similar groups of patients subjected to aortic valve replacement were compared. Metabolic arrest of the myocardium was achieved under mild hypothermic conditions in group I (71 patients) and in profound hypothermia in group II (48 patients). The operative mortality was 5.6% in group I and 4.1% in group II. There was no cardiac related with in group II. In group I two deaths were due to a low cardiac output state. In addition, 3 patients required inotropic support during the early postoperative period. Our results indicate, that magnesium-aspartate-procaine induced cardioplegia in combination with general profound hypothermia can provide effective myocardial protection during aortic valve replacement.