A comparative evaluation of myocardial protection based on criteria not associated with the quality of myocardial conservation

Based on the rich clinical material (405 patients), the authors have assessed the most common blood and crystalloid cardioplegic techniques by applying the criteria which do not apply to those of myocardial protection adequacy. Differences have been found between the methods in the volumes of blood loss, the number of patients operated on without utilizing donor blood, terms of aortic occlusion at one-stage operative interventions, recovery of cardiac performance after aortic occlusion. The differences found are essential in choosing the type of cardioplegia by taking into account the individual traits of each surgical intervention and an operating surgeon's opinions.