Relationship between position of the coronary sinus catheter and distribution of cardioplegia.
OBJECTIVE
The use of retrograde cardioplegia is controversial, mainly due to differences in theoretic and methodologic aspects. The aim of this study was to identify an optimal position for the cardioplegia catheter within the coronary sinus.


METHODS
Thirteen cadaver hearts was used, and three different catheter positions in the coronary sinus were compared, using a radio-opaque dye which had a viscosity similar to that of blood. The distribution of dye at different segments of the heart was examined.


RESULTS
Dye distribution, indicative of cardiac perfusion, was found to be related to the position of the catheter in the coronary sinus and the quantity of dye injected.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated the efficiency of retrograde cardioplegia, and also that optimal positioning of the catheter and the use of high-volume cardioplegia are required concomitantly for successful perfusion.
Tosson
R
R
Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
Kuschkowitz
F
F
Dasbach
G
G
Laczkovics
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D005260:Female; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged