Continuous Warm Blood Cardioplegia Pitfalls and Solutions

(#1998-75226 ... October 30, 1998)

Giuseppe Rescigno, MD, Patrick Nataf, MD, Richard Raffoul, MD, Ramzi Ramadan, MD, Marcio Scorsin, MD, Arrigo Lessana, MD

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Centre Cardiologique du Nord (CCN), Saint Denis, France

ABSTRACT

Background: Continuous warm blood cardioplegia offers superior preservation in both routine and complicated cardiac cases. Management of continuous perfusion is an important task during each case.

Methods: The authors have developed several specific techniques to ensure stable catheter insertion and placement for continuous coronary sinus or antegrade ostial perfusion.

Results: Over 3,800 patients have been operated on with continuous warm blood cardioplegia using catheter techniques as described in this article. The overall 30-day mortality was 3.9%.

Conclusions: Safe application of continuous warm blood cardioplegia has many advantages over prior cold techniques, but surgeons must know certain technical modifications to be able to universally apply continuous techniques safely.

AUTHOR/ARTICLE INFORMATION

Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Giuseppe Rescigno, MD, 24 Rue Briant, 92260 Fontenay aux Roses, France, e-mail: grescigno@aol.com.