Comparison of Isothermic Continuous Retrograde Blood Cardioplegia vs. Intermittent Antegrade Blood Cardioplegia in Isolated CABG Surgery Patients

Abstract

Introduction: CABG surgeries are performed without complications owing to the improvements in various myocardial protection methods. Patients and Methods: In the present study, 109 patients who had undergone CABG surgeries between June 1, 2014 and July 31, 2014 were analyzed to investigate the superiority of two different myocardial protection methods utilized in two groups. Group A comprised 26 patients and intermittent isothermic antegrade blood cardioplegia was used at 29°C-32°C. Group R comprised 83 patients and continuous retrograde isothermic blood cardioplegia was used after single dose antegrade blood cardioplegia at 29°C-32°C. Results: For all 109 patients, early mortality rate was 1 (0.91%). Euroscore, age, sex, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ejection fraction, and preoperative creatinine levels were comprehensively compared between the groups as the patient's characteristics. No statistical differences were found in these parameters of the groups. Intraoperative and postoperative parameters such as total perfusion time, aortic cross clamping time, prolonged mechanical ventilation needs, postoperative first day troponin levels, usage of inotropic drugs, renal insufficiency requiring hemodialysis, and ischemic ECG changes were comprehensively compared between the groups. Total perfusion time (p= 0.016) and aortic cross clamping time (p= 0.006) parameters were found statistically different between the groups. No significant differences were found for the other postoperative parameters of the groups. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that all methods compared and analyzed in this study for myocardial protection can be used safely with similar early outcomes.