Crystalloid potassium cardioplegia: concepts and early studies

Abstract

In spite of study findings that incriminated hyperkalemia as the toxic factor of cardioplegic solutions, the results of later experiments documented the safety and effectiveness of osmotically balanced hyperkalemic solutions in patients undergoing cardiac surgical procedures. The concepts of hyperkalemic cardioplegia and the early animal and clinical studies leading to its reintroduction as a useful adjunct in cardiac surgical procedures are referenced in this report.