Potassium channel openers: Are they effective as pretreatment or additives to cardioplegia?

Christopher T. Ducko, Edward R. Stephenson, A. Mark Jayawant, Deon W. Vigilance, Ralph J. Damiano

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the potassium channel opener pinacidil (Pin) as a pretreatment (PT) agent or additive to St. Thomas' solution (StT) could enhance myocardial protection. Methods. In a parabiotic rabbit Langendorff model, 36 hearts underwent global normothermic ischemia (1 hour) followed by reperfusion (30 minutes). Cardioplegia (50 mL, every 20 minutes) consisted of: StT; PinPT/StT, where Pin PT preceded StT arrest; Pin alone; Pin in StT (Pin/StT); and Pin in low potassium StT. Systolic function after reperfusion (percent recovery of developed pressure) and compliance (diastolic slope from pressure-volume relationship) were measured. Results. There was no significant difference between StT and PinPT/StT in percent recovery of developed pressure (51.54% ± 3.5%, 42.17% ± 4.0%, respectively) or compliance. Likewise, no significant differences occurred between Pin, StT, Pin/StT, and Pin in low potassium StT in percent recovery of developed pressure (58.99% ± 4.8%, 51.54% ± 3.5%, 53.09% ± 3.2%, 66.43% ± 7.3%, respectively) or compliance. Conclusions. Pin is as effective a cardioplegic agent as StT; however, its use as a pretreatment or additive to traditional and Pin in low potassium StT provided no additional benefit in functional recovery. (C) 2000 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1363-1368
Number of pages6
JournalAnnals of Thoracic Surgery
Volume69
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2000

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Surgery
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Potassium channel openers: Are they effective as pretreatment or additives to cardioplegia?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this