Abstract
To analyse the results of combined profound myocardial hypothermia and cardioplegic hyperkalemic arrest for aortic valve replacement a series of 100 consecutive patients undergoing isolated or combined aortic valve replacement was reviewed.
There was no operative or early postoperative mortality, only one patient presented with low cardiac output syndrome.
Inotropic support was used in 8, vasodilator therapy in 4 and external pacing in 8 instances. Reoperation for bleeding occurred twice. Postpericardiotomy syndrome was present in 7 patients; requiring surgical drainage in 2. Conduc tion defects ( > 48 H) were present in 3 and supraventricular arrhythmias in 15 patients successfully treated with medical therapy in 5 and D.C. countershock in 10.
The clinical results confirm that this simple myocardial protection technique provides an excellent myocardial preservation for all patients operated for sin gle or combined aortic valve replacement.
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