Comparative Study Between Conventional Crystalloid Cardioplegic Solution With Modified Del Nido Cardioplegia in Mitral Valve Regurgitation Surgery

Cardioplegia is a fundamental component in providing heart protection, limiting metabolic activity and increasing the myocardium's capacity to resist ischemia for prolonged periods, thus being essential for good surgical outcomes.

Numerous cardioplegia solutions exist with different compositions to provide sufficient myocardial protection. However, there is no standard for the optimal or ideal composition and delivery technique. Cardioplegia solutions are crystalloid or blood-based solutions with various chemical compounds.

Despite improvements in myocardial protection, prosthetic valves, surgical techniques, and postoperative care, the operative mortality and morbidity of mitral valve replacement for chronic mitral regurgitation remains high in comparison with other commonly performed heart operations.

The timing of the administration of cardioplegia is extremely important in terms of preventing myocardial dysfunction. Conventional multidose cardioplegias should be repeatedly administered in every 15 to 20 min. Frequent interruption of the surgical process, even for a short time, before each cardioplegia delivery leads to a loss of time during open heart surgery, where time is extremely important, and disrupts the coherence of the operation and the surgical concentration.

Crystalloid cardioplegic solutions achieve cardioplegic arrest through inhibition of either fast-acting sodium channels or calcium-activated mechanisms. Hyperkalemia can be used to inhibit the fast-acting sodium channels as it is in the St.Thomas Hospital solution and its modifications.