Assessment of right ventricular function postretrograde cardioplegia by transesophageal echocardiography

The impact of continuous retrograde cardioplegia (RCP) on right ventricular (RV) function was evaluated prospectively with intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in 36 patients (23 males, 13 females) with a mean age of 60.4 years (ages 24-82). Operative procedures included 12 aortic valve replacements, 16 mitral valve repair/replacements, both with or without an associated cardiac operation, and 8 Ross procedures. Mean cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time was 123.3 minutes (66-280 minutes) with an average cross-clamp time of 88.9 minutes (43-199 minutes). The amount of cold blood RCP ranged from 3160-18,500 mL (mean = 7382.5), and the average pulmonary artery pressure was 35/18 mmHg. The coronary sinus was distally snared in 11 patients. TEE documented biventricular global dysfunction in two patients and post-CPB with preservation of the left ventricular function in all other patients. Localized akinesis of the RV apex and outflow tract were noted in three patients, and isolated worsening tricuspid insufficiency of moderate to severe intensity in six patients. Two of the six patients with worsening tricuspid insufficiency belonged to the snared coronary sinus group (11 patients). All of the documented RV dysfunctions were new and showed no correlation with the perfusion data.

(1) RV apex, RV outflow tract and tricuspid valve were particularly subject to important dysfunction post-RCP; (2) RCP did not protect RV adequately in 11 patients (31%); and (3) TEE is a convenient intraoperative technique in evaluating RV dysfunction.