Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 24, 2026

Postconditioning with Lactate-enriched Blood for Cardioprotection in ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction
05:26

Postconditioning with Lactate-enriched Blood for Cardioprotection in ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Published on: May 28, 2019

Intravenous co-infusion of adenosine and norepinephrine preconditions the heart without adverse hemodynamic effects

M V Cohen1, J D Thornton, C S Thornton

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile 36688, USA.

The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
|August 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

A novel combination of adenosine and norepinephrine effectively preconditioned rabbit hearts against infarction during ischemia. This parenteral method offers a safe and feasible approach for cardiac protection during limited coronary artery bypass grafting procedures.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Myocardial infarction during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) necessitates protective strategies.
  • Current preconditioning agents like adenosine and norepinephrine have limitations due to adverse hemodynamic effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the cardioprotective potential of a combined adenosine-norepinephrine infusion for myocardial preconditioning.
  • To determine if a mixture of adenosine and norepinephrine can mitigate adverse hemodynamic effects while providing cardiac protection.

Main Methods:

  • Rabbit hearts underwent 30-minute coronary artery occlusion to induce infarction.
  • Cardioprotection was assessed by measuring infarct size after reperfusion.
  • The study compared intravenous co-infusion of adenosine and norepinephrine prior to ischemia with adenosine bolus injections.

Main Results:

  • Adenosine-norepinephrine co-infusion significantly reduced infarct size to 9% +/- 2% compared to 40% +/- 4% in controls (p = 0.0001).
  • This protective effect was maintained up to a 60-minute interval before ischemia but not at 120 minutes.
  • Adenosine bolus injections caused hypotension and minimal infarct size reduction.

Conclusions:

  • Adenosine-norepinephrine co-infusion is a safe and feasible parenteral method for cardiac preconditioning.
  • This combination therapy shows promise for protecting the heart during limited-access CABG.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Testing Acetylcholine Followed by Adenosine for Invasive Diagnosis of Coronary Vasomotor Disorders05:58

Testing Acetylcholine Followed by Adenosine for Invasive Diagnosis of Coronary Vasomotor Disorders

Published on: February 3, 2021

Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function10:28

Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function

Published on: March 15, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers01:24

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers

Adrenergic stimulation generally impacts cardiac rate and rhythm. Specifically, stimulation of the β-adrenoceptors triggers an increase in intracellular calcium ion influx and pacemaker currents, which may cause arrhythmias. Catecholamines like adrenaline also demonstrate β2-adrenoceptor-mediated hypokalemia, impacting cardiac action potential and disrupting the normal cardiac rhythm. Class II antiarrhythmic drugs are β-adrenoceptor antagonists or β-blockers, which indirectly block calcium...
Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents01:26

Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents

Positive inotropic agents are commonly used as the first line of treatment for heart failure. One such agent is digoxin, derived from the genus Digitalis, which has been known for centuries but effectively utilized since 1785. However, these cardiac glycosides can have potentially toxic effects due to their mechanism of action, which involves inhibiting Na+/K+-ATPase and increasing contractility. Digoxin is absorbed orally and distributed in various tissues, including the CNS. It has a long...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT01:28

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) scanning is an advanced cardiac imaging technique that utilizes CT technology, with or without intravenous (IV) contrast, to produce accurate cross-sectional virtual slices of specific areas of the heart, coronary circulation, and major blood vessels such as the aorta, pulmonary veins, and arteries. The computer processes these slices to generate three-dimensional images. Multidetector CT (MDCT) is a rapid form of CT scanning that captures multiple slices...
Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview01:28

Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview

Cardiac catheterization is an invasive diagnostic technique used to identify and evaluate structural and functional diseases of the heart and major blood vessels. This technique diagnoses congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and coronary spasms and assesses ventricular function. It helps guide treatment decisions, including the need for revascularization procedures like percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and...
Cardiac Catheterization IV: Nursing Management01:26

Cardiac Catheterization IV: Nursing Management

Nursing responsibilities before cardiac catheterization include:Assess for allergies and establish baseline health status.Before cardiac catheterization, assess the patient for allergies to contrast dye. Perform a comprehensive baseline assessment, including vital signs, heart and breath sounds, and a neurovascular assessment of the extremities, noting distal pulses, skin color, and temperature. Instruct the patient to fast for 8-12 hours before the procedure. Evaluate baseline laboratory...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management01:25

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management

Pharmacologic intervention is crucial in treating cardiac arrest patients during ACLS or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support. The ACLS algorithms guide the administration of specific drugs based on the patient's cardiac arrest rhythm, which includes pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), asystole, and pulseless electrical activity (PEA).EpinephrineIndication: Epinephrine is the first-line drug for all cardiac arrest rhythms.Mechanism of Action: Epinephrine...