Cardioplegia (cardioplegia; cardiopulmonary + Greek. Plege stroke, defeat) - a set of measures aimed at protecting the myocardium during the main stage of cardiac surgery, including cardiac arrest (asystole), blood, or pharmacological cold myocardial protection. Cardioplegia is used for heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass .
There are several types of cardioplegia:
- Ischemic cardioplegia - the termination of coronary blood flow is carried out. Correction - cardioplegia in the true meaning of the word is not - the heart is absolutely not protected from the harmful effects of ischemia - the main factor leading to disastrous consequences.
- Chemical cardioplegia - is carried out by introducing pharmacological preparations (potassium citrate, potassium chloride , acetylcholine , etc.) into the coronary arteries of the heart using cardioplegic cannulas.
- Cold ischemic cardioplegia - is carried out by irrigating the heart with a cooled saline solution , thereby reducing the damaging effect of hypoxia
Currently, only cold is true cardioplegia. Hypothermia provides a significant increase in the period of myocardial ischemia without significant consequences. Another option - in case of prolonged cardiac arrest - cardioplegia of unmodified blood is possible. The disadvantage - at low temperatures - the deterioration of microcirculation. However, this technique allows for myocardial perfusion for up to 180 minutes without pronounced necrobiotic changes in the myocardium.