• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.365-372
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• 1996

In an attempt to evaluate the effect of St. Thomas' hospital cardioplegic solution (STH) I and II on the cultured rat myocardial cells, beating rate, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (Irtrazolium MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase activity were investigated, and also light and electron microscopic studies were carried out. After rat myocardial cells were cultured for 72 hours, cells were treated with STH I or with STH H solution for 30 and 120 min. and thereafter myocardial cells were cultured in control medium for 24 hours. The results obtained were as follows : 1. Beating rate was 154 times per min. in control group, 141 times per min. in STH I solution(for 2. 120 min.)-treated group and 145 times in STH ll solution (for 120 min.)-treated group. MTT absorbances by MTT assay were 102% in STH I solution (for 120 min.)-treated group and 93% in STH ll solution (for 120 min.)-treated group compared with control group. 3. The amount of lactate dehydrogenase released into the medium were 123% in STH I solution (for 120 min.)-treated group and 109% in STH H solution (for 120 min.)-treated group compared with control group. 4. In the light microscopy examination, myocardial cells showed no differences between experimental and control groups in their number and shape. 5. In the electron microscopy examination, myocardial cells treated with STH I solution showed fewer destroyed mitochondria compared to STH ll solution-treated group. These results suggest that both 51. Thomas'cardioplegic solution STH 1 and STH H have no cytotoxicity on cultured rat myocardial cells, but STH H solution has more protective effect on myocardial cells compared to STH I solution.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 1997

Retrograde myocardial protection is widely accepted in CABG operation because of the limitations of the antegrade method in the coronary arterial stenosis lesions. We analyzed 76 c ses of retrograde myocardial protection among 96 cases of CABG operation performed between April 1994 and August 1995, There were 48 males and 25 females, and the mean age was 58.2 $\pm$ 8.3 years. 53 patients (70%) were operated for unstable angina, 14 (18%) for stable angina, 6 (8%) for post-infarct angina, 1 (1%) for acute myocardial infarction, and 2()%) for failed PTCA. Preoperative coronary angiography revealed 3-vessel disease in 42 cases, 2-vessel disease in 11, 1-vessel disease in 10, and left main disease in 13 cases. We used SVG(63 cases), LIMA(69 cases), RIMA(11 cases), radial artery(6 cases), and gastroepiploic artery(1 case) for the grafts. Mean anastomosis was 3.2 $\pm$ 1.1. We protected the myocardium with antegrade induction and retrograde maintenance in all the cases except a case of retrograde induction and maintenance. During the aortic cross-clamping, blood cardioplegia was administered intermittently in 19 cases, and continuously in 57 In 39 cases, we used retrograde ardioplegia and antegrade perfusion of RCA graft simultaneously. We had no operative motality. Perioperative complications were arrhythmia in 15 cases, perioperatve myocardial infarction in 10, low cardiac output syndrome In 8, transient neurologic problem in 7, transient psychiatric problem in 6, ARF in 3, bleeding in 2, pneumonia in 2, wound infection in 1, and duodenal ulcer perforation in 1 . In this report, we experienced 76 cases of CABG operation with retrograde myocardial protection under the acceptable operative risk without operative mortality.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.799-811
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• 2003

Background: The aim of this study is to define the cardioprotective effects (hemodynamic, cytochemical and ultrastructural of the newly developed Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate (HTK) cardioplegia compared to DelNido cardioplegia. Material and Method: Seventy-nine isolated rat hearts were divided into three groups on the basis of techniques of cardioplegia infusion. Twenty-eight hearts (Group 1) were flushed with cold DelNido cardioplegia with every 40 minutes for 2 hours. Twenty-seven hearts (Group 2) were flushed with cold HTK cardioplegia for once during the 2 hours. Twenty-four hearts (Group 3) were flushed with cold HTK cardioplegia with every 40 minutes for 2 hours. Heart rate, left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), changes of + dp/dt max, coronary flow, and rate-pressure product value were measured at pre-ischemic, post-reperfusion 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 45 minutes for hemodynamic study. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LD), creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB, troponin-I, myoglobin, and lactate were measured at pre-ischemic and post-reperfusion 45 minutes for cytochemical parameters. Mitochondrial scores were counted in 3 cases from each group for ultrastructural assessment. Result: In hemodynamic study, there were no significant differences among group 1, group 2, and group 3. However, the decrease values of heart rate in group 2 and 3 exhibited significantly lower values than in group 1. In cytochemical study, there were no significant differences among group 1, group 2, and group 3. However, the increase values of lactate in group 2 and 3 exhibited significantly lower values than in group 1. In ultrastructural assessment, the mean myocardial mitochondria scores in group 1, group 2, and group 3 were 2.14$\pm$0.10, 1.52$\pm$0.57, and 2.10$\pm$0.16. Conclusion: HTK solution provides adequate myocardial protection with some advantages over DelNido solution in isolated rat hearts.

• Proceedings of the KTCVS Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.15-15
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• 1995

• Proceedings of the KTCVS Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.41-41
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• 1998

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 1999

Background: In cardiac surgery, hypothermia is associated with a number of major disadvantage, including its detrimental effects on enzymatic function, energy generation and cellular integrity. Warm cardioplegia with normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass cause three times more incidence of permanent neurologic deficits than the cold crystalloid cardioplegia with hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Interruptions or inadequate distribution of warm cardioplegia may induce anaerobic metabolism and warm ischemic injury. To avoid these problems, tepid blood cardioplegia was recently introduced. Material and Method: To evaluate whether continuous tepid blood cardioplegia is beneficial in clinical practice during valvular surgery, we studied two groups of patients matched by numbers and clinical characteristics. Warm group(37$^{\circ}C$) consisted of 18 patients who underwent valvular surgery with continuous warm blood cardioplegia. Tepid group(32$^{\circ}C$) consisted of 17 patients who underwent valvular surgery with continuous tepid blood cardioplegia. Result: Heartbeat in 100% of the patients receiving continuous warm blood cardioplegia and 88.2% of the patients receiving continuous tepid blood cardioplegia converted to normal sinus rhythm spontaneously after removal of the aortic cross clamp. There were no differences between these two groups in CPB time, ACC time, the amount of crystalloid cardioplegia used and peak level of potassium. During the operation, the total amount of urine output was more in the warm group than the tepid group(2372${\pm}$243 ml versus 1535${\pm}$130 ml, p<0.01). There were no differences between the two groups in troponin T level measured 1hr and 12hrs after the operation. Conclusion: Continuous tepid blood cardioplegia is as safe and effective as continuous warm blood cardioplegia undergoing cardiac valve surgery in myocardial protection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.483-488
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• 2003

There are still debates in the literature on the relative benefits of blood cardioplegia and crystalloid cardioplegia in pediatric cardiac surgery. We performed a clinical trial to compare the myocardial protective effect between HTK solution and blood cardioplegic solution in congenital heart surgery. Material and Method: 15 patients who underwent HTK solution cardioplegia (group 1) and 15 patients who underwent blood cardioplegia(group 2) were included in this study. Preoperative and postoperative serial serum cardiac enzyme levels (troponin I, CK-MB, LDH) were measured in all patients. Clinical data were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Result: There were no differences in age and body weight between the two groups. Operative diagnosis included ventricular septal defect (VSD, n＝4), atrial septal defect (ASD, n＝1), tetralogy of Fallot (TOF, n＝4), and other complex heart diseases (n＝6) in group 1, VSD (n＝7), ASD (n＝5), and TOF (n＝3) in group 2. Cardiopulmonary bypass times were 99.1$\pm$48.1 minutes in group 1, and 69.3$\pm$27.3 minutes in group 2 (p＝0,02). Aortic clamping times were 52.1$\pm$23.6 minutes in group 1, and 37.9$\pm$20.5 minutes in group 2 (p＝0.07). There was no mortality and spontaneous defibrillation was possible in all patients. No differences were observed in the serial enzyme levels between the two groups. There were no differences in the duration of inotropic support and ventilator time between the two groups. Conclusion: HTK solution provided comparable myocardial protection compared with blood cardioplegic solution. A single high dose of HTK solution may be safely and conveniently used for an extended periods as well in congenital heart surgery.

• Proceedings of the KTCVS Conference
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• 1993.06a
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• pp.14-14
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• 1993

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.837-844
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• 1998

Background: Adenosine is secreted by myocardial cells during myocardial ischemia or hypoxia. It has many beneficial effects on arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, and reperfusion ischemia. Although many investigators have demonstrated that cardioplegia that includes adenosine shows protective effects in myocardial ischemia or reperfusion injury, reports of the optimal dose of adenosine in cardioplegic solutions vary. We reported the results of beneficial effects of single dosage(0.75 mg/Kg/min) adenosine by use of self-made Langendorff system. But it is uncertain that dosage was optimal. The objective of this study is to determine the optimal dose of adenosine in cardioplegic solutions. Material and Method: We used a self-made Langendorff system to evaluate the myocardial protective effect. Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 90 minutes of deep hypothermic arrest(15$^{\circ}C$) with modified St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegia including adenosine. Myocardial adenosine levels were augmented during ischemia by providing exogenous adenosine in the cardioplegia. Three groups of hearts were studied: (1) group 1 (n=10) : adenosine - 0.5 mg/Kg/min, (2) group 2(n=10): adenosine -0.75 mg/Kg/min, (3) group 3 (n=10) : adenosine -1 mg/Kg/min. Result: Group 3 resulted in a significantly rapid arrest time of the heart beat(p<0.05) but significantly slow recovery time of the heart beat after reperfusion(p<0.05) compared to groups 1 and 2. Group 2 showed a better percentage of recovery(p<0.05) in systolic aortic pressure, aortic overflow volume, coronary flow volume, and cardiac output compared to groups 1 and 3. Group 1 showed a a better percentage of recovery(p<0.05) in the heart rate compared to the others. In biochemical study of drained reperfusates, CPK and lactic acid levels did not show significant differences in all of the groups. Conclusion: We concluded that group 2 [adenosine(0.75 mg/Kg/min) added to cardioplegia] has better recovery effects after reperfusion in myocardial ischemia and is the most appropriate dosage compared to group 1 and 3.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.353-361
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• 1998

Hypothermia is widely acknowledged as fundamental component of myocardial protection during cardiac operations. Although it prolongs the period of ischemic arrest by reducing oxygen demands, hypothermia is associated with a number of major disadvantages, including its detrimental effects on enzymatic function, energy generation, and cellular integrity. The ideal way to rotect the heart is to electromechanically arrest it and perfus it with blood that is aerobic arrest. However alternative technique has been developed, based on the principles of electromechanical arrest and normothermic aerobic perfusion using continuous warm blood cardioplegia. To determine if continuous warm blood cardioplegia was beneficial in clinical practice during valvular surgery, we studied two groups of patients matched by numbers and clinical characteristics. Group included is 31 patients undergoing valvular surgery who received intermittent cold crystalloid cardioplegia. Group II included 30 patients undergoing valvular surgery who received continuous warm blood cardioplegia. Our results suggest that the heartbeat in 100% of patients treated with continuous warm blood cardioplegia converted to normal sinus rhythm spontaneously after the removal of the aortic cross-clamp, compared to only 31% of the cold cardioplegia group. After operation, pericardial closure rate was 90% area in the warm group, compared to 35% area in the cold group. 12 hours after the operation, the total amount of urine output in the warm group was greater than that in the cold group(2863${\pm}$127 ml versus 2257${\pm}$127 ml; p<0.05). After the operation, left diaphragmatic elevation developed in 55% of the cold group but in 0% of the warm group. CK-MB level in the warm group was significantly lower than cold group(2.28${\pm}$0.62 versus 9.96${\pm}$2.12; p<0.01) 1 hour after operation and CK-MB level in the warm group was significantly lower than cold group(1.80${\pm}$1.01 versus 6.00${\pm}$1.74; p<0.05) 12hours after operation. Continuous warm blood cardioplegia is at least as safe and effective as hypothermic technique in patients undergoing cardiac valvular surgery. Conceptually, this represents a new approach to the problem of maintaining myocardial preservation during cardiac operations.