The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 25, 541-550, Copyright © 1978 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
A comparison between propranolol and hypothermia in preventing ischemic contracture of the left ventricle (stone heart)
GL Zumbro Jr, L Tillman, AO Bailey 3d and RL Treasure
Ischemic contracture of the left ventricle ("stone heart") was studied
utilizing a previously described stone heart model. Our studies suggest
that beta-adrenergic blockade is not quantitatively as important as
hypothermia in protecting ischemic myocardium. On the basis of reduced
fibrillatory activity and a slight protective effect shown by electron
microscopy, it would appear that combining propranolol with hypothermia may
be superior to either used singly.