The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 22, 322-329, Copyright © 1976 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Retrograde venous cardiac perfusion for myocardial revascularization: an experimental evaluation
GD Williams, HF Burnett, BL Derrick and CH Miller
This study evaluates cardiac function in dogs during retrograde perfusion
through the coronary sinus. Five hearts perfused retrograde in an ex vivo
apparatus demonstrated rapid and marked increases in weight and perfusion
pressure, became hemorrhagic, and contracted poorly within one hour. Five
similarly perfused hearts treated with phenoxybenzamine experienced no
increase in weight or perfusion pressure and maintained good color and
contractions for up to one hour. Five additional hearts treated with
phenoxybenzamine did not develop hemorrhage, edema, increased weight, or
increased perfusion pressure but could maintain the systemic circulation
for only brief periods after 15 minutes of intermittent cardiopulmonary
bypass support. We conclude that cardiac viability can be maintained with
retrograde perfusion enhanced with alpha blocking agents. However, hearts
so perfused cannot maintain adequate systemic pressure. The data suggests
that extensive myocardial revascularization through the retrograde venous
route would be ineffective.
