Does type of cardioplegia affect myocardial and cerebral outcome in pediatric open cardiac surgeries?

Background A single-dose strategy for cardioplegia is desired in pediatric congenital cardiac surgery, especially in repair of complex congenital defects. The hypothesis of this study is that a single infusion of Bretschneider HTK solution may offer myocardial and cerebral protection superior to repeated doses of a cold oxygenated blood cardioplegic solution in pediatric congenital cardiac surgery. Patients and methods Sixty patients who underwent congenital cardiac repair using cardiopulmonary bypass were grouped randomly to receive either a single dose of Custodiol (group A) or repeated oxygenated blood cardioplegia (group B). Echocardiography, ECG, and microscopic examination were used to evaluate left-ventricular function and structure. Myocardial injury was assessed with creatine kinase MB and serum troponin T, whereas cerebral outcome was assessed by jugular venous oxygen saturation. Patients were also neurologically examined and studied by brain computed tomography for gross neurological manifestation of cerebral ischemia or infarction preoperative and 2 days postoperatively. Results Myocardial enzymes and oxygen extraction were significantly high in group B compared with group A. Ultrastructure evaluation and cerebral outcome were significantly better in group A than in group B. Conclusion A single dose of an HTK cardioplegic solution provides better myocardial and cerebral protection than repeated doses of oxygenated blood cardioplegia during pediatric congenital cardiac surgery.