Effect of an oxygen-enriched solution and multiple dosing of antegrade crystalloid cardioplegic solution on myocardial metabolism during coronary artery bypass graft operations.

The metabolic effect of excessive oxygenation and frequency of administration of antegrade crystalloid cardioplegic solution was assessed in 33 patients undergoing routine coronary artery bypass graft operations. Four patient groups were designed in which the initial aortic root injection was 1000 ml and then 100 ml administered through the vein grafts after completion of each distal anastomosis. The groups were divided as follows: group 1, single dose, normally oxygenated cardioplegic solution infused via the aortic root; group 2, single dose, high oxygen content cardioplegic solution infused via the aortic root; group 3, normally oxygenated cardioplegic solution with additional 250 ml doses via the aortic root every 20 minutes; group 4, high oxygen content cardioplegic solution with additional 250 ml doses via the aortic root every 20 minutes. In all groups myocardial mean septal temperature showed an immediate fall to approximately 11 degrees C with the initial aortic root doses and then a gradual rewarming to approximately 20 degrees C during the crossclamp period (mean 58.6 minutes). Metabolic parameters measured or calculated from the coronary sinus effluent were myocardial oxygen extraction, lactate production, base deficit, inorganic phosphate, glucose, potassium, creatine kinase (total and myocardial band fraction), and catecholamine production. There was no statistically significant difference in any of these determinations between each patient group. Furthermore, myocardial recovery, myocardial performance, and postoperative recovery characteristics were not different. We conclude that single or multidose aortic root crystalloid cardioplegic solution (either oxygen enriched or normally oxygenated) is equally effective in routine coronary artery bypass graft operations when septal temperatures are maintained between 15 degrees and 21 degrees C for a total arrest time of 60 minutes or less. In this study, increasing the volume cardioplegic solution given in multiple doses appeared to offer no significant metabolic or functional advantage in patients without complications who had satisfactory left ventricular function.