title: Associated factors with survivals in patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplant using retrograde blood microcardioplegia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several techniques and cardioplegic solutions have been used for heart preservation during transplant procedures. Unfortunately, there is a lack of ideal method for myocardial preservation in the clinical practice. The use of retrograde cardioplegia provides continuous infusion of cardioplegic solution during the graft implantation. This strategy may provide better initial recovery of the graft. The objective of this study is to describe the experience of a single center where all patients received the same solution for organ preservation and were subjected to continuous retrograde blood microcardioplegia during implantation of the graft and to evaluate factors associated to early and late mortality with this technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective, observational and descriptive study of a single center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period were performed 35 heart transplants. Fifteen (42.9%) patients were in cardiogenic shock. The probability of survival was 74.8±7.8%, 60.4±11.3% and 15.1±13.4% at 1 year, 5 years and 10 years of follow-up, respectively. The median survival time was 96.6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of myocardial protection with retrograde cardioplegic solution may reduce the risks associated morbidity due to cold ischemia time during the heart transplant, and we suggest that this benefit may be even greater in cases of cold ischemia time longer ensuring protection to the myocardium.
authors.affiliation: HC, UNICAMP, Campinas, SP, Brasil. clavagnoli@gmail.com
authors.forename: Carlos Fernando Ramos
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lavagnoli
authors.forename: Elaine Soraya Barbosa de Oliveira
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Severino
authors.forename: Karlos Alexandre de Souza
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Vilarinho
authors.forename: Lindemberg da Mota
authors.initials: Lda M
authors.lastname: Silveira Filho
authors.forename: Pedro Paulo Martins de
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Petrucci
authors.forename: Reinaldo Wilson
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Domingo Marcolino
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Braile
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002314:Cardioplegic Solutions; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002314:Cardioplegic Solutions