title: The efficacy of potassium-induced cardioplegia and topical hypothermia in the correction of congenital cardiac lesions.
abstract: Myocardial metabolic, structural and functional preservation were evaluated in 44 patients who underwent open heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass, potassium cardioplegia and topical hypothermia. The duration of cardiac arrest varied from 14 to 87 minutes. Myocardial high-energy phosphates were not only adequately preserved but actually exceeded the control values during periods of cardiac arrest. Glycogen levels were decreased moderately and one to three fold increases in lactate/pyruvate ratios were detected. Myocardial ultrastructure was well preserved. Postoperative clinical recovery of the patients was excellent. The only patient who died from a low output syndrome showed no evidence of myocardial damage. The results of this study serve to illustrate the beneficial effects of potassium cardioplegia and topical hypothermia on myocardial preservation during prolonged periods of ischaemic cardiac arrest, as used for the correction of congenital cardiac lesions.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011188:Potassium / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium