Carvedilol-Enriched Cold Oxygenated Blood Cardioplegia Improves Left Ventricular Diastolic Function After Weaning From Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Abstract

Carvedilol added to blood cardioplegia improved diastolic cardiac function and reduced oxidative stress during the first 3 hours after reperfusion in a porcine model, with 100 minutes of cardioplegic arrest.

More complex than expected?

“…Use of b-adrenergic blockers with sustained anti-adrenergic effects as part of a cardioplegic solution is questionable, due to potential problems with low systolic function during weaning from CPB and in the early postoperative phase. In our animal model with 100 min of cardioplegic arrest, the addition of carvedilol (a non-selective b-and a 1 -adrenergic receptor blocker with oxygen radical scavenger properties) to potassium-based blood cardioplegia improved diastolic function judged by improved end-diastolic compliance, a reduced relaxation constant (s) and reduced peak negative dP/dt [6]. Choi and Stamm hypothesize that a temporary reduced systolic function could easily be treated by adrenergic stimulation, whereas a stiff heart with diastolic dysfunction is more problematic.…”