The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 75, 886-893, Copyright © 1978 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Effects of procaine-induced cardioplegia on myocardial ischemia, myocardial edema, and postarrest ventricular function. A comparison with potassium-induced cardioplegia and hypothermia
TJ Bixler, TJ Gardner, JT Flaherty, RA Goldman and VL Gott
The extent of myocardial protection afforded by a procaine cardioplegic
solution during cardiac ischemia has been evaluated and compared with the
protection seen using a potassium cardioplegic solution. An isolated cat
heart model was employed, and ventricular function parameters,
intramyocardial gas tensions, and postischemic myocardial edema were
measured and compared following 60 minutes of induced ischemia at 37
degrees C. and 27 degrees C. There was no significant improvement in
recovery of postarrest ventricular function when procaine cardioplegia was
used during normothermic ischemia. When used at 27 degrees C., however,
both cardioplegic solutions were associated with significantly better
recovery of postarrest ventricular function, although there was less
myocardial edema formation in the potassium- treated hearts. Results of
this study indicate that procaine-induced cardioplegia provides myocardial
protection during anoxic cardiac arrest which is additive to that afforded
by hypothermia alone. In addition, procaine cardioplegia results in
postarrest functional recovery which is similar to that seen with potassium
cardioplegia.