Myocardial Necrosis and the Postoperative Low-Cardiac-Output Syndrome

Myocardial Revascularization Surgery: JACC Historical Breakthroughs in Perspective

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was introduced in the 1960s as the first procedure for direct coronary artery revascularization and rapidly became one of the most common surgical procedures worldwide, with an overall total of more than 20 million operations performed. CABG continues to be the most common cardiac surgical procedure performed and has been one of the most carefully studied therapies. Best CABG techniques, optimal bypass conduits, and appropriate patient selection have been rigorously tested in landmark clinical trials, some of which have resolved controversy and most of which have stoked further debate and trials. The evolution of CABG cannot be properly portrayed without presenting it in the context of the parallel development of percutaneous coronary intervention. In this Historical Perspective, we a provide a broad overview of the history of coronary revascularization with a focus on the foundations, evolution, best evidence, and future directions of CABG.

Coronary artery bypass grafting: Part 1--the evolution over the first 50 years

Surgical treatment for angina pectoris was first proposed in 1899. Decades of experimental surgery for coronary artery disease finally led to the introduction of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 1964. Now that we are approaching 50 years of CABG experience, it is appropriate to summarize the advancement of CABG into a procedure that is safe and efficient. This review provides a historical recapitulation of experimental surgery, the evolution of the surgical techniques and the utilization of CABG. Furthermore, data on contemporary clinical outcomes are discussed.

The use of controlled reperfusion strategies in cardiac surgery to minimize ischaemia/reperfusion damage

Ischaemia and reperfusion occur during almost every cardiac operation, and one of the key elements to achieve a successful operation is to counteract the detrimental effects of induced ischaemia and reperfusion during the operation. The cardiac surgeon is in a unique position to protect the heart before ischaemia is induced and to avoid further damage during the reperfusion period. The surgeon can alter the composition of the reperfusate and the conditions of reperfusion so that the ischaemia/reperfusion injury is minimal, even after very complex procedures that require long aortic cross-clamp periods. This in turn allows him to perform a near-perfect surgical repair of the underlying disease without the pressure of time. The vast knowledge gained in this field over the years has led to application in other organs, such as the limbs (acute limb ischaemia), lungs (lung transplantation), kidney and liver (kidney and liver transplantation), and more recently even for the brain [acute cerebral artery occlusion (stroke)] and the whole body (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Further improvements in reperfusion strategies will allow salvage of tissue and even whole body after ischaemic periods thought previously to be irreversibly damaged.

Differential changes in respiratory capacity and ischemia tolerance of isolated mitochondria from atrophied and hypertrophied hearts

In spite of opposing changes in rates of adenosine triphosphate turnover, hypertrophy and atrophy of the heart are accompanied by the same changes in gene expression, resembling a fetal genotype. Fetal hearts are characterized by increased ischemia tolerance. We assessed respiratory capacity of mitochondrial subpopulations from unloaded and pressure-overloaded hearts before and after 15 minutes of normothermic ischemia. Unloading was achieved by heterotopic rat heart transplantation and overloading by aortic banding. Respiratory chain gene expression (NADH dehydrogenase, cytochrome c oxidase [COX]) were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Subsarcolemmal mitochondria (SSM) and interfibrillar mitochondria (IFM) were isolated by differential centrifugation. Citrate synthase was used as mitochondrial marker enzyme. Adenosine diphosphate-stimulated oxygen consumption (state 3) was measured with a Clark-type electrode. Unloading resulted in atrophy, overloading in hypertrophy. State 3 was reduced in atrophied hearts both in SSM and IFM (SSM: 204 +/- 79 vs 804 +/- 147 natoms oxygen min(-1) mL(-1), P < .001; IFM: 468 +/- 158 vs 1141 +/- 296 natoms oxygen min(-1) mL(-1), P < .05), but was unchanged in hypertrophied hearts. NADH dehydrogenase and COX expression was also decreased with atrophy and was unchanged with hypertrophy. Ischemia caused decreased recovery of citrate synthase in isolates of SSM (P < .05) but not of IFM. State 3 in control hearts was reduced in IFM (-41%, P < .01) and SSM (-19%, not significant). This ischemia-induced decrease was less pronounced in SSM (-2%) and IFM (-22%) of atrophied and IFM (-23%) of hypertrophied hearts. Subsarcolemmal mitochondria of hypertrophied hearts displayed the greatest ischemia-induced decrease of state 3 (-32%, P < .05). In conclusion, (1) long-term changes in workload differentially affect maximal respiratory capacity and ischemia tolerance of isolated mitochondria. The changes are not parallel to the changes in energy requirements. (2) Mitochondria of atrophied hearts appear to be more resistant against ischemia than controls.

Cardiac protection during acute myocardial infarction: Where do we stand in 2004?

Despite better outcomes with early coronary artery reperfusion for the treatment of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI), morbidity and mortality from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain significant, the incidence of congestive heart failure continues to increase, and there is a need to provide better cardioprotection (therapy that reduces the amount of necrosis that may be coupled with better clinical outcome) in the setting of AMI. Since the introduction of the concept of cardiac protection over a quarter of a century ago, various interventions have been investigated to reduce myocardial infarct size. Intravenous beta-blockers administered in the early hours of infarction were clearly shown to be of benefit. Intravenous adenosine appeared promising for anterior wall AMIs, as did cariporide in some studies. Glucose-insulin-potassium infusion was beneficial in certain subgroups of patients, particularly diabetics. A variety of other medications were studied with negative or marginal results. The best strategy to limit infarct size is early reperfusion with percutaneous coronary stenting or thrombolytic therapy. Stenting is superior and should be adopted whenever there is a qualified laboratory available. Available resources should focus on decreasing time from onset of symptoms to start of reperfusion and maintaining vessel patency. Future studies powered to better assess clinical outcome are needed for adjunctive therapy with adenosine, K(ATP) channel openers, Na(+)/H(+) exchange inhibitors, and hypothermia.

[The non Q wave myocardial infarction in conventional valvular surgery. Diagnosis with cardiac troponin I]

INTRODUCTION

Morbidity and mortality in elective valve surgery is still significant. The main cause of death in these patients is cardiogenic shock, of which the most frequent etiology is acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with Q wave in the ECG. However, there are patients with cardiogenic shock without Q wave in the ECG and with rises in CK-MB enzyme that makes us suspect non-Q wave AMI.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the use of the determination of cardiac troponin-I, a more specific marker of AMI than CK-MB after cardiac surgery, to detect perioperative non-Q wave AMI, and to establish its clinical significance.

METHODS

A total of 147 patients without coronary artery disease scheduled for elective valve surgery were included. We used, based in anterior publications, ECG (presence or not of new Q wave) and cardiac troponin I to define perioperative AMI. Levels of cardiac troponin-I were analysed before surgery and 14 hours after. Non-Q wave AMI was diagnosed when troponin I was superior to 38.85 ng/ml and there was not a phatologic Q wave in ECG.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-three (83.67%) of patients did not have AMI, 9 (6.12%) suffered perioperative AMI with Q wave, and 15 (10.27%) carried out criteria of non-Q wave perioperative AMI. Morbidity and mortality in this last group was similar to that in the group with Q wave AMI. Morbidity and mortality were minimum in patients without AMI.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggest the possibility of in vivo identification of non-Q wave perioperative AMI, an entity with important morbidity and mortality in our series, with a simple determination of cardiac troponin I 14 hours after surgery.

Small left coronary arteries after arterial switch operation for complete transposition

BACKGROUND

Myocardial perfusion is not completely normal and ventricular function is depressed in some patients after the arterial switch operation. The basic mechanism has not yet been defined totally.

METHODS

The diameters of the right, left main trunk, anterior descending, and circumflex coronary arteries were measured by computer-assisted densitometry at 8 to 86 months (mean, 47.5 months) after the arterial switch operation in 86 patients.

RESULTS

The Z scores, compared with control, were +2.0 +/- 0.3, -1.8 +/- 0.3, and -1.5 +/- 0.3 for the right, left anterior descending, and circumflex coronary arteries, respectively. The Z score for the total cross-sectional area of the three vessels was -1.5 +/- 0.3. These parameters did not correlate with left ventricular ejection fraction.

CONCLUSIONS

At the midterm follow-up after the arterial switch operation for complete transposition of the great arteries, the left coronary arteries are small. A careful follow-up study is mandatory to clarify the clinical significance of this finding.

Heterogeneity of myocardial blood flow

Myocardial blood flow is heterogeneous, whether considered by chamber, by layers of the ventricular walls, or by microregions within layers. There is also variability of myocardial flow reserve, particularly in layers and microregions, even when the heart is arrested. The variability of flow during arrest may be associated with the resistance pathways to each region, but the variability of flows in the beating heart with vascular tone is probably due to regional differences in work and thus oxygen demand. Heterogeneity by layer may be responsible for the subendocardial ischemia that is common to many forms of heart disease. Microheterogeneity may account for the patchy necrosis that occurs with chronic ischemia.

Influence of anatomic correction for transposition of the great arteries on myocardial perfusion: radionuclide imaging with technetium-99m 2-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile

OBJECTIVES

We sought to determine the incidence of late perfusion defects attributable to coronary artery mobilization in patients undergoing anatomic correction for complete transposition of the great arteries.

BACKGROUND

Anatomic correction (arterial switch procedure) is currently the surgical treatment of choice for complete transposition. From its conception, there has been concern about the impact on myocardial perfusion of the coronary artery mobilization and reimplantation involved in the correction. Previous studies have demonstrated myocardial perfusion defects in patients after correction, although a causal relation between coronary mobilization, and perfusion abnormality has not been established.

METHODS

In a case-comparison study designed to test this hypothesis, 29 children underwent imaging with technetium-99m 2-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (technetium-99m mibi). Ten had undergone anatomic correction (arterial switch group; interval from operation 6.9 +/- 1.42 years [range 4.9 to 9.1]); 9 had required noncoronary open heart surgery for other cardiac lesions (post-bypass group; interval from operation 5.6 +/- 3.6 years [range 1.0 to 13.25]); and 10 had had no surgical procedure (control group). The latter group comprised children with atrial or ventricular septal defects who required a radionuclide study for shunt calculation. Planar studies were performed in all 29 children, and additional tomographic acquisition was achieved in 25. To assess reversibility of perfusion defects both an exercise and a rest planar study were performed in the arterial switch group.

RESULTS

Perfusion abnormalities were observed in seven of the nine children in the postbypass group and in all 10 children in the arterial switch group. The frequency of perfusion defects in these two groups was similar, with at least 25% of the tomographic segments reported being abnormal. The control group had significantly fewer defects than the other two groups (p = 0.02), with only 8% of the tomographic segments judged to be abnormal. In all except one patient in the arterial switch group, the segments reported as abnormal on the planar exercise study were either abnormal or equivocal on the rest study, indicating a fixed abnormality.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the precise etiology of these perfusion abnormalities cannot be defined from this study, these data suggest that their origin is related more to the insult of open heart surgery itself than to the coronary manipulation involved in the arterial switch procedure. The functional importance requires further study.

Oxygen radicals and myocardial stunning

There is compelling, although indirect, evidence that oxygen free radicals, generated during ischemia as well as upon reperfusion and reoxygenation of the ischemic heart, contribute to the reversible ventricular dysfunction characterized as myocardial stunning. Evidence of cell membrane damage as well as depression of sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial function with resulting calcium overload of the cell may be a result of lipid peroxidation of the cell by free radical products. Radical scavenger enzymes have been shown to greatly reduce the appearance of mRNA of a stress response protein (heat shock protein 71) in a pig heart model of stunning. The potential role for the introduction of antioxidant enzymes or stress protein in the cell is presented as a possible strategy for attenuating free radical damage during postischemic reflow.

Effect of adenosine triphosphate on the postischemic left ventricular function of the immature myocardium

In this study, the effect of exogenous adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on the immature myocardium was evaluated. Isolated working neonatal rabbit hearts were perfused aerobically for 15 min with Krebs-Henseleit buffer (KHB) at 37 degrees C, and then arrested with St. Thomas solution (STS) in group 1 and STS containing 500 mumol/L of ATP in group 2 at 4 degrees to 6 degrees C and maintained at 10 degrees to 14 degrees C for 60 min. Hearts were reperfused with KHB aerobically at 37 degrees C for 15 min. Each heart served as its own control before and after arrest. Systolic function was significantly depressed in group 1 compared with group 2. There was a significant decrease in the peak left ventricular (LV) systolic pressure in group 1 (preischemia mean [PIM] 54 mm Hg to postischemia mean [PoIM] 42 mm Hg, Student's t test p = 0.007) than in group 2 (PIM 66 to PoIM 62 mm Hg, p = 0.5). The LV pulse pressure decreased in group 1 (PIM 72 to PoIM 54 mm Hg, p = 0.02) but not in group 2 (PIM 84 to PoIM 86 mm Hg, p = 0.9) and the rate of rise of LV pressure (dP/dT) in group 2 improved (PIM 5718 to PoIM 6926 mm Hg, p = 0.4) compared with group 1 (PIM 7021 to PoIM 4125 mm Hg, p = 0.008). The PoIM LV flow (LVF) was greater in group 2 than group 1 (LVF group 1 = 2.7 ml/min, group 2 = 4.5 ml/min). Diastolic pressures were not significantly different in the two groups. Our findings suggest that the incorporation of ATP in STS has a significant effect in improving postischemic LV systolic function in neonatal rabbit hearts.

Cross-sectional area index of left ventricular myocardium as a risk factor influencing early and late postoperative survival in aortic regurgitation

Late cardiogenic death after aortic valve replacement in aortic regurgitation is still a most important unresolved problem. We studied how the extent of cross-sectional area index (CSAI) relates to early and late cardiogenic deaths after aortic valve replacement (AVR) in aortic regurgitation with normal coronary artery. Forty-one patients were classified into two groups: Group I having CSAI greater than 20 cm2/m2 (18 patients), and Group II, in whom CSAI was less than 20 cm2/m2 (23 patients). All preoperative factors in patients with CSAI greater than or equal to 20 cm2/m2 showed poor values compared with patients with CSAI less than 20 cm2/m2 with a statistical difference of 63 +/- 6 versus 56 +/- 4% in cardiothoracic ratio, 72 +/- 9 versus 64 +/- 8 mm in diastolic dimension, 54 +/- 9 versus 43 +/- 7 mm in systolic dimension, 25 +/- 7 versus 32 +/- 6% in fractional shortening, 326 +/- 60 versus 209 +/- 63 ml/m2 in end-diastolic volume index, 177 +/- 52 versus 81 +/- 29 ml/m2 in end-systolic volume index, and 47 +/- 14 versus 58 +/- 5% in ejection fraction (mean +/- SD). In Group II, there were no postoperative cardiac deaths and no patient was subjected to intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP). In contrast, in Group I, 17% died from postoperative low output syndrome and 33% were subjected to IABP. Concerning late deaths, there was no cardiac death in any CSAI patient with less than 20 cm2/m2; however, 22% of the patients with CSAI greater than or equal to 20 cm2/m2 died from cardiac causes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Nonuniform blood flow in the canine left ventricle

In order to investigate the relationship between coronary perfusion pressure and blood flow distribution in the left ventricle (LV), we measured myocardial blood flow in small regions using radioactive microspheres in six anesthetized, open-chest dogs. Mean coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) was controlled with a femoral artery to left main coronary artery shunt which included a pressurized, servo-controlled blood reservoir. In each dog, we measured flow in 192 regions of the LV free wall (mean weight per region = 206 +/- 38 mg) at different perfusion pressures. At CPP = 80 mm Hg, blood flow to individual regions varied fourfold (0.30 to 1.18 ml/min/g; relative dispersion (RD) = 21.8 +/- 2.3%). At CPP = 50 mm Hg, flow varied over sevenfold (0.08 to 0.60 ml/min/g; RD = 42.8 +/- 10%; P less than 0.01 vs 80 mm Hg). This relationship between flow variability and CPP was present within individual LV layers as well between layers and is much higher than the error associated with the microsphere technique. We conclude that blood flow to small regions of the LV is markedly nonuniform. This heterogeneity becomes more profound at lower CPP. These findings suggest that (1) global measurements of coronary flow must be interpreted with caution, and (2) even in hearts with normal coronary arteries some regions of the LV are more susceptible to ischemia than others. In addition, these findings may help explain the patchy nature of myocardial damage that occurs following periods of low coronary pressure or inadequate myocardial protection during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Tolerance of the hypertrophic heart to ischemia. Studies in compensated and failing dog hearts with pressure overload hypertrophy

Tolerance of the canine heart to prolonged ischemic arrest was studied in 10 hearts from normal control dogs and 15 hearts from dogs with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH); experiments were performed 1 year after banding the aorta in 8-week-old puppies. At 1 year, hemodynamic studies revealed decreased left ventricular (LV) fiber shortening and elevated end-diastolic pressure (EDP) in five dogs (group with LVH failure); 10 dogs exhibited normal shortening and normal EDP (group with LVH compensation). The left ventricle-to-body weight ratio (g/kg) was 4.4 +/- 0.8 in the control group of dogs, 7.7 +/- 1.0 in the group with LVH compensation, and 10 +/- 2.5 in the group with LVH failure. The tolerance to 60 minutes of global ischemia (37 degrees C) followed by 90 minutes of reperfusion was studied in an isolated blood-perfused heart apparatus (isovolumic left ventricle, coronary perfusion pressure of 100 mm Hg). In the baseline (preischemic) state, coronary blood flow, myocardial oxygen consumption, lactate extraction, and myocardial high-energy phosphate content were essentially equal in the three groups; with LV volume adjusted to produce a systolic pressure of 100 mm Hg, there were no significant differences in LVEDP among the three groups. During ischemia, the diastolic (asystolic) pressure increased from 11 +/- 3 to 28 +/- 16 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) in the group with LVH failure; however, it did not increase in the control or the LVH compensation groups. Myocardial ATP levels declined equally in all three groups. During early reperfusion, lactate washout was lowest in the group with LVH failure. By 90 minutes of reperfusion, there were no significant differences in coronary blood flow, myocardial oxygen consumption, lactate extraction, or high-energy phosphate levels. High diastolic pressure persisted at 90 minutes of reperfusion in the LVH failure group (EDP was 34 +/- 19 mm Hg); however, there was no significant change in EDP during reperfusion in the control or with LVH compensation groups. After 90 minutes of reperfusion, developed pressures in the control (54 +/- 9 mm Hg), the LVH compensation (49 +/- 18 mm Hg), and the LVH failure (67 +/- 17 mm Hg) groups were not significantly different. These data indicate that hearts with compensated LVH do not exhibit an impaired tolerance to ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Coronary and systemic vascular resistance during reperfusion after global myocardial ischemia

During controlled aortic root reperfusion after global myocardial ischemia for the performance of coronary artery bypass grafting (N = 16), coronary blood flow was the highest during the first 1 minute to 2 minutes even though the aortic root pressure was controlled at about 40 mm Hg. Even during the period of controlled low pressure, flow began to decline, and the decline continued during the period in which the pressure was controlled at 75 mm Hg. Calculated coronary vascular resistance rose steadily from an initially low value to one well above the normal value for beating hearts. A transient fall in resistance resulted from the administration of a bolus of nitroglycerin into the aortic root. When the initial reperfusate was normokalemic, coronary flow was less and coronary vascular resistance higher during the initial phase of reperfusion. The systemic arterial pressure and resistance fell during the first 1 minute to 3 minutes of reperfusion and in 25% of patients, remained low. The greater the potassium load delivered during the initially hyperkalemic phase, the longer the interval between the beginning of reperfusion and the resumption of cardiac systole.

Transmural myocardial perfusion

The predilection for subendocardial underperfusion and ischemia is great and must be considered in the management of any patient, especially if there is coronary artery disease or ventricular hypertrophy. Although the mechanisms of subendocardial ischemia remain to be fully defined, they are clearly associated with the transmural distribution of intramyocardial systolic pressures. Even though almost all the myocardium is perfused in diastole, a reduction of diastolic perfusion pressure or duration will result in subendocardial ischemia. The factors that produce subendocardial ischemia are all associated with a reduction or loss of coronary flow reserve, and as our ability to measure flow reserve in humans improves, it is likely that we will be able to select medical or surgical therapy that will minimize or abolish subendocardial ischemia. For example, it will someday become possible to choose a time for valve replacement in an asymptomatic patient to obtain maximal protection of the myocardium or to select the right combination of therapies for the immediate post-operative period so that as much myocardium as possible will be spared. The more we learn to understand the mechanisms of subendocardial ischemia, the sooner will we be able to achieve these desired ends.

Perioperative acute myocardial infarction after valve replacement

The incidence of fatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after valve replacement has decreased with use of cold potassium-induced cardioplegia. Despite this method of myocardial preservation, 12 of 662 consecutive patients submitted to valve replacement had this complication. This study retrospectively analyzes, in those 12 patients, the etiologic profile of fatal perioperative AMI, together with its morphologic aspects. The clinical picture in 11 patients was a refractory low cardiac output state. In only 3 cases was AMI diagnosis confirmed during life. Six patients either had a technical complication or a coronary embolus; in these patients AMI was localized in the vascular bed of a single occluded coronary artery, and its morphologic picture resembled that of usual AMI. The 6 other patients did not have a defined cause for AMI and coronary occlusion was not present. In 4 such patients, there was massive circumferential necrosis, mainly in the subendocardium; comparatively, there was a greater prevalence of hemorrhage, contraction bands and necrosis of the layer of subendocardial cells adjacent to the left ventricular cavity. The findings for this group suggest myocardial necrosis due to cell damage during cardiopulmonary bypass; no predisposing factor for perioperative AMI was identified.

Evidence against systolic intramural forces as the primary cause of subendocardial preponderance of ischemia

Verification of the current view that subendocardial preponderance of ischemia is due to greater forces generated in the deep myocardial layer during systole was undertaken. In anesthetized mongrel dogs transient ischemia was produced in two different situations of altered systolic forces. First, in order to remove that part of the systolic force which is related to intracavitary pressure, left ventricular bypass was created and the left ventricle vented. Second, in order to even out the transmural distribution of the remaining part of the forces, which is due directly to distortion and displacement of contracting fibers, ventricular fibrillation was induced in addition to venting under conditions of total cardiopulmonary bypass. In both series of experiments the ischemic area was then reperfused, normal circulation re-established and the animal allowed to survive for 3-5 days. After sacrifice, ischemic necrosis was found almost exclusively in the subendocardium. The persistence of subendocardial preponderance of ischemia under conditions of left ventricular venting and absence of coordinated contraction shows that uneven distribution of intramural forces generated during systole is not the primary cause of this preponderance.

Ventricular fibrillation induced prior to cardioplegic arrest in hypertrophied pig hearts

We hypothesized that by inducing ventricular fibrillation (VF) prior to cardioplegic arrest in nonvented hypertrophied hearts of pigs, the metabolic characteristics of the epicardial and endocardial regions would be compromised compared with animals in which cardioplegic solution was infused while the hearts were in normal sinus rhythm (NSR). These abnormalities would be reflected not only in greater deterioration of myocardial metabolism after reperfusion in the VF group, but they would also be more pronounced in the subendocardial layers of hypertrophied left ventricles. Results obtained in hypothermic hearts (28 degrees C) maintained at 8 degrees to 12 degrees C during cardioplegic arrest demonstrated no major consistent differences in the stores of glycogen, creatine phosphate, adenine nucleotides, and lactate in both groups of hearts, for either layer of the left ventricular myocardium. The only significant difference was slightly lower creatine kinase content in the VF hearts than in the NSR group. It is concluded that induction of VF in hypothermic (28 degrees C), nonvented, hypertrophied hearts prior to infusion of cardioplegic solution does not affect myocardial energy stores compared with hearts in NSR, provided that the period of VF prior to clamping is short (3 minutes) and that the myocardial temperature is lowered to 28 degrees C prior to VF and is maintained at 8 degrees to 12 degrees C during cardioplegic arrest.

Myocardial protection through cold cardioplegia with potassium or diltiazem. Experimental evidence that diltiazem provides better protection even when coronary flow is impaired by a critical stenosis

Intermittent aortic root infusion of a cold solution containing either potassium chloride (KCl) or diltiazem was performed in 32 dogs during a 2-hour aortic clamping. Half of the dogs in each group had a critical stenosis created on the circumflex artery before cardiopulmonary bypass. Global left ventricular (LV) function was determined 1 hour after bypass by means of LV pressure, peak dP/dt, LV end-diastolic pressure, cardiac and stroke work indexes. Regional function was assessed through microcrystals in the areas of the circumflex and left anterior descending coronary arteries. LV pressure decreased in all dogs, but more so with the KCl solution (p = 0.02). The stenosis had no specific effect on LV pressure, but affected peak positive dP/dt (p = 0.007) and LV end-diastolic pressure (p less than 0.0001). Cardiac and stroke work indexes decreased more in the KCl group than in the diltiazem group (p less than 0.002) with or without stenosis. Both positive and negative dP/dt were affected by the type of solution (a greater decrease with KCl), but the narrowing affected only the positive dP/dt. Regional LV function remained unchanged in the absence of a narrowing and was depressed equally in dogs with a narrowing whether they received KCl or diltiazem. Overall LV function appeared to be better preserved with diltiazem, with or without impairment of circumflex flow.

Coenzyme Q10: the prophylactic effect on low cardiac output following cardiac valve replacement

A randomized, prospective study of the effectiveness of preoperative administration of coenzyme Q10 on the prophylaxis of postoperative low cardiac output state was performed in 50 patients with acquired valvular diseases necessitating valve replacement. There were 25 patients in the treatment group and 25 in the control group. Patients in the treatment group received 30 to 60 mg of coenzyme Q10 orally for six days before operation. Preoperative clinical variables, operative procedures, total cardiopulmonary bypass time, and aortic cross-clamping time were similar for the two groups. Postoperatively, mild to severe low cardiac output state developed in 28 of 50 patients (56%) and necessitated the administration of considerable amounts of inotropic agent. The treatment group showed a significantly lower incidence of low cardiac output state during the recovery period than the control group (p less than 0.05). These results suggest that preoperative administration of coenzyme Q10 will increase the tolerance of human hearts to ischemia during aortic cross-clamping.

Changes in peripheral vascular and cardiac sympathetic activity before and after coronary artery bypass surgery: interrelationships with hemodynamic alterations

The plasma catecholamine levels obtained simultaneously from radial artery (A), pulmonary artery (MV), brachial vein (PV), and coronary sinus (CS) were measured concurrent with hemodynamic determinations during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operations. Arterial catecholamine levels decreased after induction of anesthesia and increased after sternotomy; changes in veno-arterial norepinephrine (NE) differences ([PV-A]ne, [MV-A]ne, and [CS-A]ne) were of the same magnitude and direction, suggesting that NE release from various organs was of the same extent. After operation, arterial NE increased further, but the veno-arterial NE differences were in striking contrast; [PV-A]ne became markedly positive, whereas [CS-A]ne became markedly negative, indicating that NE release from extremity peripheral vasculature increased markedly while cardiac NE release decreased. These differential changes in regional sympathetic activity appear to be related to postoperative hypertension (HT) and low cardiac output (CO). There were close relationships of changes in [MV-A]ne to mean arterial pressure (r = 0.78, p less than 0.001) and systemic vascular resistance (r = 0.62, p less than 0.010, suggesting that the sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in CABG perioperative hemodynamic alterations.

Interstitial fluid pressure changes during cardiopulmonary bypass

The effects of cardiopulmonary bypass using hemodilution on interstitial fluid pressure were measured using the Scholander wick technique. In 10 mongrel dogs, interstitial fluid pressure was measured in subcutaneous tissue, skeletal muscle, stomach, and left ventricle before and during 2 hours of cardiopulmonary bypass. Changes in interstitial fluid pressure were correlated with plasma colloidal osmotic pressure and duration of bypass. In subcutaneous tissue and skeletal muscle, interstitial fluid pressure increased during bypass; it did not change in the stomach. End-diastolic interstitial fluid pressure in the left ventricle increased significantly. These increases in pressure were presumably due to an increase in interstitial water. The rise in interstitial fluid pressure acts to partially neutralize the fall in plasma colloidal osmotic pressure.

Factors relating to late sudden death in patients having aortic valve replacement

The preoperative and postoperative characteristics of a group of 16 patients who died unexpectedly and a control group of 52 late survivors with aortic protheses are reviewed. There were no preoperative differences between the groups for duration of congestive heart failure, electrocardiographic findings, cardiothoracic ratio, or hemodynamic findings. However, on the standard electrocardiogram postoperatively, there were more ventricular arrhythmias in the patients who died suddenly (7 of 16 or 44%) compared with the survivors (5 of 49 or 10%) (p less than 0.05). There were more patients with congestive failure in the study group (10 of 16 or 62%) compared with the controls (4 of 52 or 8%) (p less than 0.05). Patients exhibiting these findings are at risk of sudden death. Arrhythmia monitoring prior to discharge may also be helpful in selecting patients for antiarrhythmia treatment.

Pulsatile perfusion: its effects on blood flow distribution in hypertrophied hearts

Left ventricular hypertrophy was created in 15 pigs by banding the ascending aorta when they were young. The adult animals were placed on normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and perfused with either nonpulsatile (two groups of pigs) or pulsatile (one group) flows. As long as the perfusion rate was maintained at 70 ml/kg/min, myocardial blood flow distribution as determined by radioactive microspheres, was identical in the hearts with normal sinus rhythm and those with ventricular fibrillation irrespective of the type of perfusion. At low flow rates, however, subendocardial ischemia developed in all three groups, but was most severe in the fibrillating hearts, and was not reversed by pulsatile perfusion.

Effect of potassium cardioplegia on myocardial ischemia and post arrest ventricular function

To assess the effects of moderate potassium cardioplegia (37 mEq/l KCl) on the severity of myocardial ischemia during arrest and on post arrest ventricular function, 32 isolated, isovolumic feline hearts were studied before, during and 1 hour after ischemic arrest. Normothermia (37 degrees C) was maintained in the remaining 16 hearts, eight without KCl and eight with KCl. Hypothermia (27 degrees C) was maintained in the remaining 16 hearts, eight with KCl and eight without KCl. Myocardial oxygen (PmO2) and carbon dioxide tensions (PmCO2) were measured by mass spectrometry. Maximum developed intraventricular pressure (max DP) and max dP/dt were used as indices of performance. Compared with normothermic or hypothermic arrest alone, the addition of potassium cardioplegia resulted in a significant reduction in the peak PmCO2 measured during the arrest period. Hypothermia alone resulted in morphologic evidence of improved myocardial preservation and a significant reduction in peak PmCO2 compared with normothermia. Post arrest ventricular function was best with the combination of hypothermic arrest and potassium cardioplegia (max DP = 96 +/- 6% of control and max dP/dt = 99 +/- 5% of control). These data suggest that the beneficial effects of postassium cardioplegia and 27 degrees hypothermia are additive, and that reduction in myocardial ischemia as evidenced by a reduction in peak PmCO2 correlated with improvement in ventricular performance in the post arrest period and with preservation of myocardial structure.

Dilatory capacity of the coronary circulation and its correlation to the arterial vasculature in the canine left ventricle

The functional capacity of flow limiting myocardial conductance vessels was evaluated in canine hearts. In an isolated heart preparation transmural coronary flow distribution during maximal vasodilation was measured in the unloaded diastolic arrested left ventricle with tracer microspheres. The ratio of subendocardial versus subepicardial (ENDO/EPI) flow in the left ventricular free wall was 1.6. Measurements in 8 different wall layers showed a successive increase in maximal coronary flow from the subepicardium towards the deeper layers. A decreased subendocardial vascular resistance due to a better vascularization is forwarded as a mechanism to compensate for the extravascular compression during cardiac contraction. This statement contradicts the commonly accepted hypothesis that a diminished vascular tone with a reduction of the dilatory reserve in the subendocardium accounts for a homogeneous flow distribution in the normal beating heart. An augmentation of subendocardial supplying vessel capacity could be established from the angiographic determination of the coronary arterial volume of intramural small arteries and arterioles. From a strict parallelity in maximal coronary flow and coronary arterial volume within the wall, it becomes probable that these vascular structures are the flow-limiting factors which determine regional coronary flow reserve in the absence of extravascular compressive forces.

Left ventricular subendocardial necrosis

The hearts of as many as 90% of patients who die after open-heart operations have left ventricular subendocardial necrosis. This form of myocardial infarction depresses myocardial performance postoperatively and may result in late myocardial fibrosis. It occurs without anatomical obstruction of the coronary arteries and is caused by a discrepancy between subendocardial oxygen supply and demand during the perioperative period. This review of subendocardial necrosis summarizes the author's current understanding of: (1) why the subendocardium is especially vulnerable to this injury; (2) how to predict which patients are most susceptible to it; (3) how interventions before, during, and after extracorporeal circulation can either contribute to it, minimize its severity, or prevent it; and (4) where future study of this problem should be directed.

Concentric hemorrhagic necrosis of the myocardium. A morphological and clinical study

Froty-nine cases of concentric hemorrhagic necrosis of the left ventricular myocardium were reviewed in a series of 97 autopsy studies in patients subjected to cardiopulmonary bypass for various types of cardiac surgery. The gross and microscopic findings were analyzed in order to define the morphologic evolution of the lesion. The extent of involvement was graded by gross examination of serial transverse sections of the heart. Microscopically there were five major histologic changes, probably representing the sequential evolution of the lesion, i.e., contraction bands, subendocardial hemorrhages, coagulative necrosis, healing by granulation tissue, and fibrosis. The location of the lesion conincided with the vulnerable region of the microcirculation. Owing to the implementation of new surgical techniques, the cases were subdivided into two groups, one covering the period from 1963 to 1970 and the other , 1971 to 1974. Concentric hemorrhagic necrosis was less frequent in the more recent group, but when it was present it was more pronounced in the individual heart. The lesion in the earlier group was milder but demonstrated a higher incidence of platelet microthrombi in the heart. In the recent cases concentric hemorrhagic necrosis tended to be more diffuse in aortocoronary bypass than in valvular replacement surgery. We discuss one possible explanation for the development of this lesion, i.e., transient hypoxemia occurring at the time of cardiopulmonary bypass, followed by reperfusion and accelerated necrosis with hemorrhage.

Intraoperative application of intraaortic balloon counterpulsation determined by clinical monitoring of the endocardial viability ratio

Persistent unrecognized subendocardial ischemia with development of subendocardial necrosis is a major cause of patient death following cardiopulmonary bypass. The lesion is caused by a discrepancy between the oxygen needs of subendocardial muscle and the available blood supply. If sole reliance is placed upon monitoring conventional vital signs, the more subtle factors contributing to decreased blood flow may go unrecognized. Reported studies have confirmed that the adequacy of subendocardial perfusion can be predicted by calculating the supply/demand ratio, defined as the ratio of the diastolic pressure-time index (DPTI) divided by the systolic pressure-time index (TTI). An analog computer was designed and built that measures the area under the systolic and diastolic component, calculates the DPTI/TTI ratio, and digitally displays the result as the endocardial viability ratio (evr). The EVR was used to determine the adequacy of left ventricular subendocardial blood flow in 64 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac operations. Unidirectional intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) was utilized in 14 patients with 9 long-term survivors. The difference in mean EVR between survivors and nonsurvivors at the initiation of balloon support was statistically significant. Early application of unidirectional IABC when subendocardial ischemia persists following open cardiac procedures may prevent deterioration to subendocardial necrosis with subsequent morbidity or mortality.