Troponin T release with warm and cold cardioplegia

• Published in: Perfusion Vol. 11; no. 5; p. 377
• Main Authors: Brackenbury, E T, Sherwood, R, Meehan, N, Whitehorne, M A, Forsyth, A T, Marrinan, M T, Desai, J B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-09-1996
• Subjects: Aged; Coronary Artery Bypass; Female; Heart Arrest, Induced; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardium - metabolism; Myocardium - pathology; Temperature; Troponin I - analysis
• ISSN: 0267-6591
• DOI: 10.1177/026765919601100504

Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels were measured in 41 patients undergoing elective coronary artery surgery. Twenty-one patients received continuous warm antegrade blood cardioplegia to maintain asystole whilst 20 patients received antegrade cold blood cardioplegia intermittently. Serum levels of cTnT were determined preoperatively and at 0, 6, 12 and 18 h postbypass. Peak cTnT levels and total cTnT release (calculated from the area under the curve postoperatively) were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05: Mann-Whitney) when cold cardioplegic solutions were used. Continuous warm cardioplegia results in lower cTnT release than intermittent cold blood cardioplegia suggesting that the former may provide better myocardial preservation.