Original Article

Clinical Results with the Use of Blood Cardioplegia in the Community Hospital

St. John Medical Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma

^* Direct communications to: William B. Pelley, CCP, Perfusion Services, Inc., 810 East Grand River, Brighton, MI 48116.

Received: October 1983
Accepted: November 1983

Abstract

A retrospective data collection was carried out in order to determine the efficacy of blood cardioplegia in the community hospital setting. A total of 97 patient charts were reviewed and divided into two groups. Group A consisted of 72 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting including three patients requiring concurrent left ventricular aneurysm resection. Group B consisted of all other procedures. Eleven (15%) patients in Group A required vasopressor support and eight (11%) patients required the use of an intra-aortic ballon. While six patients had elevations in enzyme levels, only one of them required the use of an intra-aortic balloon. Two of the patients had balloons inserted pre-operatively for pre-infarction angina. Five (20%) patients in Group B required vasopressor support and two (8%) patients required use of an intra-aortic balloon. There were two early deaths in this group. Four (16%) patients were identified as having a perioperative infarct. There was an overall mortality of 2% in the review. This may indicate that our use of blood cardioplegia was safe and effective.