Beneficial effects of ischemic preconditioning on right ventricular function after coronary artery bypass grafting

Background. Preservation of right ventricular myocardium is unsatisfactory in patients with critical stenosis or occlusion of the right coronary arter y. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ischemic preconditionin g (IP) improved the recovery of right ventricular function after coronary a rtery bypass grafting. Methods. Forty patients with three-vessel disease who had coronary artery b ypass grafting were randomly assigned to the IP group (n = 20) or control g roup (n = 20). In the IP group, two cycles of two minutes of ischemia after three minutes of reperfusion were given before cross-clamping. Hemodynamic data were collected. Right ventricular ejection fraction was measured by t hermodilution. Results. Right ventricular ejection fraction and right ventricular systolic Volume index were decreased postoperatively (lowest value at 6 hours posto peratively). The changes in right ventricular ejection fraction were signif icantly milder in the IP group postoperatively (p = 0.012). The decrease in right ventricular systolic volume index postoperatively was also less in I F patients (p = 0.002). Fewer inotropic drugs were used in the IP group com pared with controls. Conclusions. Ischemic preconditioning had a myocardial protective effect on recovery of right ventricular contractility in patients who had coronary a rtery bypass grafting. (Ann Thorac Surg 2000;70:1551-7) (C) 2000 by The Soc iety of Thoracic Surgeons.