Antegrade Intermittent Cold Cardioplegia in Comparison to Antegrade Intermittent Warm Cardioplegia in Heart Valve Surgery

Background: The cardioplegic arrest is essential for motionless and bloodless heart valve surgery. The objective of this work was to compare antegrade cold versus warm blood cardioplegia during valve surgery. Methods: This randomized controlled study included 100 patients who had mitral valve surgery. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups; the warm cardioplegic group (n= 50) and the cold cardioplegic group (n= 50). Study endpoints were creatine kinase myocardial band, lactate dehydrogenase, and troponin levels. Results: There was no significant difference in age and sex between groups (p= 0.51 and 0.56, respectively). Cardiopulmonary bypass was significantly longer in the cold group (85.66 ± 22.9 vs. 72.34 ± 25.09 minutes; P= 0.01); however, there was no difference in ischemic time (p= 0.32). The number of DC shocks given for each patient is less in the warm group with a median of 1.5 (range 1-3 times), while in the cold group, the median was 2 (range 2-4 times); p= 0.02. The amount of blood loss was significantly lower among the warm group (645.4 ± 464.93 ml vs. 404 ± 252.7 P< 0.01). warm group had significantly lower postoperative CK (532.78 ± 249.08 vs. 638.14 ± 344.01 IU/L; P< 0.01), CK-MB (78.64 ± 34.58 vs.  103.18 ± 82.11; P< 0.0.01), LDH level (805.3 ± 322.71 vs. 1060.88 ± 500.94 mg/dl; P< 0.01) and (0.4148 ± 0.226 vs. 0.6404 ± 0.411 ng/ml; P< 0.01).   Conclusion: Antegrade warm blood cardioplegia may provide better myocardial protection during valve surgery compared to the cold cardioplegia. A larger study is recommended.