The Relationship between the Use of Cold and Isothermic Blood Cardioplegia Solution for Myocardial Protection during Cardiopulmonary Bypass and the Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to assess myocardial protection and ischemia–reperfusion injury in patients undergoing open heart surgery with isothermic blood cardioplegia (IBC) or hypothermic blood cardioplegia (HBC). Materials and Methods: A total of 48 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting or isolated mitral valve surgery between March 2017 and October 2017 were evaluated as randomized prospective study. Study groups (HBC: Group 1, IBC: Group 2) were compared in terms of interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, and complement factor 3a (C3a) levels, metabolic parameters, creatine kinase-muscle/brain (CK-MB) and high-sensitivity Troponin I (hsTn-I), and clinical outcomes. Results: Comparison of the markers of ischemia–reperfusion injury showed significantly higher levels of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 in the early postoperative period as well as IL-8, in Group 2 (p <0.001), whereas the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was significantly higher during the X1 time period (p = 0.11) in Group 2, and subsequently it was higher in Group 1. Using myocardial temperature probes, the target myocardial temperatures were measured in the patients undergoing open heart surgery with different routes of cardioplegia, and significant differences were noted (p = 0.000). Conclusion: HBC for open heart surgery is associated with less myocardial injury and intraoperative and postoperative morbidity, indicating superior myocardial protection versus IBC.