The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 31, 347-349, Copyright © 1981 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Systemic effects of multidose hypothermic potassium cardioplegia
RB Mammana, S Levitsky, CB Beckman, A Vasu and D Sernaque
The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in serum and urine
potassium before, during, and after the administration of potassium
cardioplegia using a solution containing 28 mEq/L of potassium chloride in
20 consecutive patients with acquired heart disease. The data obtained
suggest that the concentration of potassium administered does not result in
inordinately elevated serum potassium levels (peak, 4.6 +/- 0.18 mEq/L at 2
hours of multidose hypothermic potassium cardioplegia) during or after
infusion. Additionally, the urinary excretion of potassium increased during
infusion and eventually exceeded the amount of potassium infused. While
hypothermic potassium cardioplegia appears to be a safe and efficient
method of myocardial protection, continued surveillance of postoperative
potassium levels remains necessary to detect obligatory urinary potassium
excretion following cardiopulmonary bypass and operation.