CARDIOPROTECTION BY NIFEDIPINE CARDIOPLEGIA DURING CORONARY-ARTERY SURGERY

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.