Glucose-insulin-potassium techniques in cardiac surgery: historical overview and future perspectives.

Since the days of the first cardiac surgical operations in the previous century, myocardial preservation has been an essential component of the successful outcome of these procedures. Although many different techniques to achieve myocardial preservation and modulation have been described in the past 50 years, this review focuses on the use of glucose, insulin, and potassium (GIK) and its effect on ischemic and postischemic myocardium.