[Comparison of postsurgical respiratory function employing either cold blood or crystalloid cardioplegia during open...

This study was undertaken to compare postsurgical respiratory function after employing cold blood or cold crystalloid cardioplegia during open heart surgery. Fourty patients were divided into two groups for the difference of the cardioplegic solutions. Preoperatively, left ventricular stroke work index (LVSWI) and respiratory function test was evaluated. Postoperatively, A-a DO2 and respiratory index (RI) as functional parameters of oxygenation capacity, LVSWI and dosage of dopamine were monitored at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 hours after cardiopulmonary bypass and at extubation period. The recovery of respiratory function and cardiac performance were superior in blood cardioplegia with a less accumulation of water in the pulmonary interstitium as a result of hemodilution effect.