Efficacy of esmolol as a myocardial protective agent during continuous retrograde blood cardioplegia.

Objective: Esmolol, an ultra-short-acting beta-blocker, is known to attenuate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of esmolol and potassium on myocardial metabolism during continuous normothermic retrograde blood cardioplegia.

Methods: Forty-one patients operated on for isolated aortic valve stenosis were randomly assigned to continuous coronary infusion with either potassium or esmolol during cardiopulmonary bypass.