The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 31, 454-463, Copyright © 1981 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Regional myocardial protection during aortic cross-lamp ischemia in dogs: calcium-containing crystalloid solutions
MA Jacocks, M Weiss, RA Guyton, ML Jacobs, DD O'Keefe, GA Geffin and WM Daggett
To study the effects of calcium in cardioplegic solutions, an in situ dog
heart model was used that allowed infusion of two different cardioplegic
solutions into separate regions of the same heart. Two concentrations of
ionized calcium, 1.0 mM and 0.5 mM, in a cold, potassium-containing
solution were tested in two groups of dogs and compared with the same cold,
potassium-containing solution but without the calcium, during 100 minutes
of global myocardial ischemia induced by aortic clamping. Results were
evaluated in terms of percent change of regional systolic shortening
measured with ultrasonic piezoelectric crystals, percent change of regional
myocardial blood flow, and change of regional left ventricular myocardial
diastolic distensibility. No significant differences were found between
myocardial regions protected with calcium of either concentration and
regions protected with calcium of either concentration and regions
protected without calcium. This study could demonstrate no beneficial or
adverse effects of including calcium in this type of crystalloid
cardioplegic solution applied to an in situ dog heart model.