W. Trubel et al., CARDIOPROTECTION BY NIFEDIPINE CARDIOPLEGIA DURING CORONARY-ARTERY SURGERY, European journal of anaesthesiology, 11(2), 1994, pp. 101-106
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical study, the
cardioprotective effect of nifedipine (Adalat(R), Bayer) as an adjunct
to St. Thomas' cardioplegia was investigated in 24 patients undergoin
g coronary artery bypass grafting. Nifedifine at a dosage of 200 mug o
r placebo was added to each 1000 ml of St. Thomas solution, under stri
ct light protection. ECG and haemodynamic data, including cardiac outp
ut measurements, serum calcium levels, creatine phosphokinase, (CK) CK
-MB and lactate were measured during and after the operation. Addition
al cardioprotective effects were demonstrated in the nifedipine group
by a significantly lesser reduction of the cardiac index after cardiop
ulmonary bypass and lower post-operative CK and CK-MB serum levels (P<
0.05). The incidence of ischaemia and cardiac arrhythmias was signific
antly higher in the placebo group on the postoperative ECG.