Comparison of Intermittent Warm and Cold Blood Perfusion During Hypothermic Myocardial Preservation on Functional and Metabolic Recovery

Numerous techniques are used to maintain intraoperative heart viability. The studies presented here evaluated heart function and metabolism after various periods of preservation up to 4 hours with intermittent warm and cold blood perfusion. Using a heterotopic heart model cooled to 10°C and maintained for 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours, various preservation techniques were compared. Changes in myocardial metabolism were determined from substrate uptakes and biopsy samples of the left ventricular muscle for high-energy phosphates. Preservation techniques included: (1) sustained hypothermia, (2) 1 or 2 hours of sustained warm blood perfusion with fibrillation, (3) intermittent cold blood perfusion during 2, 3, and 4 hours of preservation, (4) intermittent warm blood perfusion during 2, 3, and 4 hours of preservation and (5) a control group (no preservation). Normothermic fibrillation had no effect on postpreservation functional or metabolic parameters. Sustained hypothermia reduced functional recovery proportional to the length of ischemia. The cold intermittent procedures maintained function and metabolism better than sustained hypothermia, while warm intermittent preservation maintained function and metabolism at control levels throughout the recovery period for all preservation techniques. Changes in ATP mirrored the functional changes. Creatine phosphate (CP) was markedly reduced during heart isolation and preservation and exceeded the control by 100% during reperfusion. For operative procedures of 2 hours or less, functional and metabolic recovery was not affected by the various preservation methods applied. Warm intermittent perfusion during hypothermic preservation offered the best protection for the myocardium. The warming cycles during hypothermia may provide some degree of preconditioning and protect the myocardium during reperfusion.