Mechanisms of incomplete cardioplegia distribution during coronary artery surgery: an intraoperative transesophageal contrast echocardiography study

Cardioplegia is used to protect the myocardium from ischemie injury during open-heart surgery. However, the delivery of cardioplegie solutions may be impaired by an­ atomie and/or functional conditions, such as the development of transient aortie regurgitatlon during antegrade admlnis­ tratlon of cardioplegla or shuntlng through a foramen ovale during retrograde admlnlstration. In thls study, the authors used a new method of cardioplegla adminlstratlon, based on intraoperative contrast echocardlography, to detect on-llne causes of inadequate cardloplegla dellvery.