Successful transplantation of pig hearts is possible after 30 min of normothermic ischemia without donor pretreatment if a controlled reperfusion with cold leucocyte-depleted blood cardioplegia is performed. HOE 642 given during reperfusion only improves posttransplant left ventricular function.

Recovery of donor hearts from non-heart-beating donors is comparable with recovery of organs harvested from heart-beating donors if the above-mentioned preservation technique is used. These results could encourage the use of marginal donor hearts and help to expand the limited donor pool.

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37 patients undergoing coronary revascularization were randomly assigned to three protocols for intraoperative myocardial protection: hypothermic ventricular fibrillation (HF) (n = 13), multi-dose blood cardioplegia (BCP) (n = 12) and single-dose Bretschneider's crystalloid cardioplegia (CCP) (n = 12). As intraoperative markers of ischemic damage myocardial ultrastructure, ATP, and CP contents were determined in left ventricular biopsy specimens taken before and after cardiac arrest. Release of serum enzymes (CK, CK-MB, LDH, SGOT) was determined pre- and postoperatively. Hemodynamic data were assessed before, during, and after operation. The incidence of low cardiac output, positive inotropic support, intraaortic balloon counterpulsation, peri-operative myocardial infarction, rhythm disturbances, and the rate of spontaneous defibrillation was compared between groups. The results show a better preservation of high energy phosphates in the BCP group as compared to the HF and CCP groups. Myocardial ultrastructure showed moderate ischemic damage in the hypothermic fibrillation group; in contrast, only slightly deteriorated cells were seen after cardiac arrest, when cardioplegia was used. The incidence of rhythm disturbances was 25% for HF and 42% for CCP. In contrast, only 17% of new rhythm disturbances were seen in the BCP group. Functional recovery (i.e. CI and SWI) of hearts protected with BCP was generally greater as compared to HF and CCP. Release of MB-creatine-kinase isoenzyme was higher in the HF group as compared to cardioplegia. Clinical outcome in terms of incidence of peri-operative infarction, positive inotropic support and low cardiac output was superior in the BCP group but not significantly different between groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

These findings show that controlled limb reperfusion can be applied readily with standard equipment that is used for cardiac surgery and may salvage limbs while reducing postreperfusion morbidity and mortality.

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Pulmonary artery banding is commonly performed as a palliative procedure in complex congenital heart disease, when pulmonary blood flow is increased. However, the hemodynamics may change postoperatively requiring readjustment of the band, which may necessitate a second operation. We report a new system for pulmonary artery banding which allows precise placement of the band intraoperatively, as well as bidirectional percutaneous adjustment of the band postoperatively. Via left lateral thoracothomy the new device was implanted without complications into a neonate with congestive heart failure due to tricuspid atresia (IIc) and coarctation of the aorta. Although optimal placement of the band had been achieved intraoperatively the band had to be tightened 25 h after the operation and released 85 h after the operation in order to optimize hemodynamics. The bidirectionally adjustable device for banding of the pulmonary artery is superior to previously used devices with either no or unidirectional adjustability of the band because it is safe and easy to implant and has the potential to reduce the number of reoperations associated with this type of procedure.