RANDOMIZED TRIAL COMPARING INTERMITTENT ANTEGRADE WARM BLOOD CARDIOPLEGIA WITH MULTIDOSE COLD BLOOD CARDIOPLEGIA FOR CORONARY-ARTERY BYPASS

Forty patients were randomized to receive antegrade multidose warm (WB C) or cold blood cardioplegia (CBC) during coronary artery bypass. Car dioplegia was infused at a predetermined dose every 10 min during card ioplegia arrest and core temperature was maintained at 37 degrees C in both groups during extracorporeal circulation. Patient profiles were s imilar in the two groups. Cardiac index, left ventricular stroke work index, and myocardial oxygen consumption were measured beforebypass an d during the first 7 h of reperfusion. There was no significant differ ence in myocardial metabolic and function recovery, the incidence of m yocardial infarction, low cardiac output or death. Our data suggests t hat similar protection is provided with the two techniques of myocardi al protection.