Continuous versus intermittent cardioplegia in the presence of a coronary occlusion.

Coronary artery occlusions can alter the distribution of cardioplegia and result in ischemic damage. This study was undertaken to determine whether continuous antegrade cardioplegia delivery would result in colder temperatures and provide better washout of acid metabolites than is possible with intermittent antegrade cardioplegia when coronary occlusions are present. Twenty pigs were placed on cardiopulmonary bypass and underwent 2 hours of ischemic arrest with occlusion of the middle left anterior descending coronary artery followed by 1 hour of reperfusion without occlusion of that artery.