Myocardial protection with intermittent antegrade warm blood cardioplegia

Warm myocardial protection has had a striking impact on modem cardiac surgery. At our institution we have used a warm blood cardioplegia. The delivery route was exclusively antegrade in discontinued way and only KCI is added to blood. The antegrade route ensures enough nutrient flow to the whole heart. The normothermia preserves the enzyme systems inctivated by hypothermia. The intermittent delivery allows a asanguineous surgical field which facilitates the operation. The better metabolic and clinical results recorded in coronary and valve surgery with warm technique in comparison with the cold one justifyes the use of intermittent antegrade warm blood cardioplegia. In conclusion intermittent antegrade warm blood cardioplagia is an alternative, but safe, technique of myocardial protection.