[Our initial experience of protecting the myocardium by irrigating the pericardial cavity with a circulating cold...

In 21 patients with coronary heart disease, a procedure of protecting the myocardium was used during cardiac surgeries via irrigation of the pericardial cavity with circulating cold solution in combination with cardioplegia into the aortic root. The application of the procedure maintained stable myocardial temperature from 10.26 +/- 1.55 to 11.99 +/- 1.95 degrees C, excluding excessive overcooling and premature warming. The procedure awaits further studies in terms of biochemical changes and morphology of the myocardium at various stages of surgery.