Introduction

Cardioplegia is one of the most important modalities of myocardial protection during heart surgery.

Aim

To assess the impact of blood cardioplegia on postoperative variables, in comparison with two types of crystalloid cardioplegic solutions during pediatric heart surgery.

Material and methods

One thousand one hundred and twenty-nine patients underwent surgical correction of congenital heart disease with cardioplegia administration between 2006 and 2012. Nonlinear regression models of postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) incidence, catecholamine index and total complication count were developed using a genetic algorithm. The Akaike information criterion was applied for selection of the best model. The following explanatory variables were evaluated: cardioplegia type (ST – Saint Thomas, n = 440; FR – Fresenius, n = 432; BL – Calafiore, n = 257), congenital heart diseases (CHD) type, age, sex, genetic disorder presence, body surface area (BSA), cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP) time, aortic cross-clamp time, operation urgency, redo surgery, surgeon.

Results

Low cardiac output syndrome presence and higher than average catecholamine indexes were negatively influenced by use of crystalloid cardioplegia (ST or FR), presence of specific CHDs, redo surgery and prolonged CBP time. Increased complication count was related to: crystalloid cardioplegia, presence of specific CHDs, redo surgery, urgency of operation, operation time and CBP time. Higher BSA had a protective effect against higher catecholamine index and increased complication count. Older age was protective against LCOS.

Conclusions

Cardioplegic solutions type influences postoperative variables in children after heart surgery by the negative impact of crystalloid cardioplegia. Blood cardioplegia presents potential advantages for patients – its application may reduce the incidence of low cardiac output syndrome and related complications.