Coronary flow and reactivity, but not arrhythmia vulnerability, are affected by cardioplegia during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery of piglets
Introduction: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery remains associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity in both pediatric and adult patients but the mechanisms are not fully clarified. Abnormalities in coronary flow and function have beensuggested to play an important role. A few prior studies suggested protective effects on coronary and myocardial function by short intravenous (i.v.) infu