European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Vol 2, 442-447, Copyright © 1988 by European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
Protection of the heart by nifedipine cardioplegia during coronary artery surgery. A clinical-haemodynamic evaluation
E Donegani, R De Paulis, M di Summa, GA Poletti, GM Ottino, A Matani, M Bobbio and M Morea
Cardiovascular Surgery Department, University of Torino Medical School, Italy.
This study was undertaken to evaluate the myocardial preservation obtained
by adding a Ca++ channel blocker, nifedipine, to cold potassium
cardioplegia (4 mcg/Kg/L) in 24 patients undergoing coronary artery
surgery. They were randomly divided into a treated (N) and a control (C)
group. Significant differences between the two groups were noted in the
cardiac arrest time (p less than 0.001), in the mechanical recovery mode (p
less than 0.01) and in the inotropic support needed (p less than 0.01).
Cardiac index increased significantly in group N but decreased in group C
(p less than 0.01). Peripheral delta P/delta t and endocardial viability
ratio (EVR) decreased in both groups. Coronary sinus and serum CK and CK-MB
release were significantly lower in the treated group. ECG ischaemic
changes occurred in 8 patients in group C but only in 1 case in group N (p
less than 0.001). Arrhythmias occurred in 3 cases in group C (p less than
0.05). The incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction was not
significant (2 cases in group C). These data suggest that nifedipine can
protect the myocardial cell from ischaemic injury without depressing
myocardial contractility or AV conduction.