Depletion of myocardial high energy phosphates by induction of ventricular fibrillation prior to cardioplegic arrest |
| |
Authors: | J M Levett M H Kadowaki J H Ip R B Karp |
| |
Institution: | Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Hospitals, Illinois. |
| |
Abstract: | The effects of a short period of ventricular fibrillation on myocardial high energy phosphates were assessed in two groups of rats. Group 1 underwent hypothermic crystalloid cardioplegia infusion and aortic cross-clamping. In Group 2, cardioplegia and cross-clamping were preceded by ten seconds of induced ventricular fibrillation. In rat hearts that had undergone ventricular fibrillation, adenosine triphosphate levels averaged only 70% (p less than .0001) and creatine phosphate levels averaged only 60% (p less than .0005) of levels measured following standard cardioplegic arrest without ventricular fibrillation. These findings are of potential importance in both routine cardiac surgical procedures and in organ procurement. |
| |
Keywords: | |
|
|