Can improved microvascular perfusion be achieved by using both antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia?

The complete and uniform distribution of cardioplegia to the microvasculature of the heart is considered critical for myocardial protection. This study explores the hypothesis that enhanced microvascular perfusion can be achieved by using both antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia.

Infant piglet hearts (n = 15) were arrested with antegrade blood cardioplegia, excised, and fixed with 2.5% glutaraldehyde by retrograde perfusion. Hearts were then perfused retrograde with an inert intracapillary marker (NTB-2). Six of these hearts served as controls (group 1) to anatomically demonstrate the degree of capillary perfusion achieved by the retrograde delivery route. Nine experimental hearts (group 2) underwent a subsequent infusion of antegrade blood cardioplegia to wash out NTB-2 capillaries coperfused by both the antegrade and retrograde delivery techniques. Sections of the left ventricular free wall and anterior-mid interventricular septum were taken and examined by light microscopy at four separate sites (average, 126 capillaries per section).

In control hearts, 91.9% +/- 0.9% of ventricular capillaries and 91.4% +/- 5.8% of septal capillaries were perfused by retrograde cardioplegia. After antegrade blood cardioplegia washed out group 2 hearts, 14.0% +/- 4.1% of capillaries in the ventricle still contained NTB-2, as did 12.5% +/- 5.4% of capillaries in the septum.

In this experimental model, antegrade blood cardioplegia did not coperfuse (and therefore washout) 12.5% to 14% (p < 0.05) of capillaries perfused by retrograde cardioplegia. This suggests that an additional 12.5% to 14% of capillaries within the myocardium may receive cardioplegia if retrograde cardioplegia is used in addition to antegrade cardioplegia. We conclude that by combining both antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia, there is a potential for enhanced overall microvascular perfusion.